Burrowing Owls

These wonderful tiny little owls (10 inches) have been as common in the desert area as roadrunners or quail, until the building boom descended upon... more

by Marilyn Smith

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Price

$300

Dimensions

9.000 x 12.000 inches

Title

Burrowing Owls

Artist

Marilyn Smith

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

These wonderful tiny little owls (10 inches) have been as common in the desert area as roadrunners or quail, until the building boom descended upon us. Now they are threatened in many areas due to new houses springing up and pavement covering their native turf. I used to enjoy seeing them, bobbing their heads as if they were in a curtsy, whenever I would walk near a nest in the fields and along the canals across from our neighborhood. Now, the entire former cotton fields and open canals is new houses, grocery stores, banks, shopping centers, etc. It is so sad to know that they are displaced and having a hard time finding a safe habitat to relocate into.
The Audubon Society is now working with bird rescuers in the Phoenix area to help relocate these comical and useful little creatures into habitat restoration areas in hopes of seeing an increase in their population.
Burrowing owls are great to have around as they eat small rodents, grasshoppers, other insects and scorpions. They love to have a good vantage point on top of their burrow, which is often dug into a dirt bank along a canal.
By introducing them to new artificial PVC tubes stuck into dirt cliffs with rocks piled around for protection, it is hopeful they will adapt and remain at the habitat.
I have seen a similar project at a bird refuge near us that failed miserably due to a sudden increase in a feral cat population. The artificial homes now sit empty.
I miss seeing these adorable and comical characters and I hope they will make a comeback to our area.

Uploaded

February 18th, 2014