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GotpR.4ao <br />OF �tiq <br />RECOMMENDED SURVEY PROTOCOL AND <br />ACTIONS TO PROTECT NESTING BURROWING OWLS <br />Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) are commonly found in prairie dog towns <br />throughout Colorado. Burrowing owls require prairie dog or other suitable burrows (e.g. badger) <br />for nesting and roosting. Burrowing owls are migratory, breeding throughout the western United <br />States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico and wintering in the southern United States and <br />throughout Mexico. <br />Federal and state laws prohibit the harming or killing of burrowing owls and the destruction of <br />active nests. It is quite possible to inadvertently kill burrowing owls during prairie dog poisoning <br />projects, removal of prairie dogs, destruction of burrows and prairie dogs using a concussive <br />device, or during earth moving for construction. Because burrowing owls often hide in burrows <br />when alarmed, it is not practical to haze the birds away from prairie dog towns prior to prairie dog <br />poisoning /removal, burrow destruction, or construction activity. Because of this, the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife recommends surveying prairie dog towns for burrowing owl presence before <br />potentially harmful activities are initiated. <br />The following guidelines are intended as advice on how to determine if burrowing owls are present <br />in a prairie dog town, and what to do if burrowing owls are detected. These guidelines do not <br />guarantee that burrowing owls will be detected if they are present. However, adherence to these <br />guidelines will greatly increase the likelihood of detection. <br />Seasonal Timing <br />Burrowing owls typically arrive on breeding grounds in Colorado in late March or early April, with <br />nesting beginning a few weeks later. Active nesting and fledging has been recorded and may be <br />expected from late March through early August. Adults and young may remain at prairie dog <br />towns until migrating to wintering grounds in late summer or early autumn. <br />Surveys should be conducted during times when burrowing owls may be present on prairie dog <br />towns. Surveys should be conducted for any activities occurring between March 15th and October <br />31St. No burrowing owls are expected to be present between November 1St and March 141H <br />Daily Timing <br />Burrowing owls are active throughout the day; however, peaks in activity in the morning and <br />evening make these the best times for conducting surveys (Conway and Simon 2003). Surveys <br />should be conducted in the early morning (1/2 hour before sunrise until 2 hours after sunrise) and <br />early evening (2 hours before sunset until 1/2 hour after sunset). <br />Number and locations of survey points <br />Burrowing owls are most frequently located visually, thus, obtaining a clear view of the entire <br />prairie dog town is necessary. For small prairie dog towns that can be adequately viewed in their <br />entirety from a single location, only one survey point is necessary. The survey point should be <br />selected to provide unobstructed views (with binoculars if necessary) of the entire prairie dog town <br />Attachment 2.05.6(2) -2 -3 <br />