Reintroduction of the struggling species gives them a chance at a comeback
At a field in Jamul, a little owl stood sentry beside a pile of rocks, surveying the landscape with luminous, yellow eyes.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we had stable populations throughout the county?” Hennessy asked. “We are working toward that long-term goal.” The goal, Hennessy said, is to develop a series of breeding colonies, or “recovery nodes,” throughout San Diego, which would include sufficient numbers and genetic diversity to restore healthy populations. They don’t have a target number of breeding colonies or individuals, but say they plan to release owls at a second site in the near future.
Several of the young owls were flying about the enclosures or perched in corners when the team arrived. Researchers placed them in the underground burrows and then disassembled the chicken-wire and wood structures, so the owls could venture out when they felt ready.“We will take down the flight enclosures, so these owls can truly be free and figure out life,” Marczac said.
“Burrowing owls are on life-support in San Diego and this active intervention by conservation organizations is necessary to restore the population,” said Jonathan Evans, Environmental Health Legal Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, which has monitored and advocated for burrowing owls.Although they’re designated as a species of special concern in California, they aren’t listed as threatened or endangered under either the state or federal Endangered Species Acts.
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