Factors Influencing Selection of Road Culverts as Winter Roost Sites by Western Burrowing Owls

Factors Affecting the Presence of Nesting Burrowing Owls in an Agricultural Landscape

“…We did not find an association with alfalfa, but Rosenberg and Haley (2004) reported that owls foraging far from their nests were more likely to forage in hay and alfalfa fields and speculated that alfalfa fields may have higher rodent densities. Wintering Burrowing Owls in Texas were positively associated with culverts surrounded by crop stubble (Williford et al 2009). Our results suggest that the methods and frequency with which irrigation trenches are maintained (i.e., cleared of vegetation, scoured of soil) can affect the occurrence of Burrowing Owl nest sites.…”

“…2B), and (2) trench banks along these stretches either faced south or north (because trenches were always parallel to roadside shoulders and each trench has two banks that face opposing directions) and burrows in south-facing trench banks may not provide sufficient shade during the heat of the day. Similarly, culverts in Texas with eastwest orientations were more likely to be occupied by wintering Burrowing Owls than those with northsouth orientations (Williford et al 2009). Burrowing Owl nests occurred less frequently along roadsides that did not have crops of any kind.…”

Home Ranges, Habitats, and Roosts of Wintering Burrowing Owls In Agricultural Landscapes In Central Mexico

“…One third of wintering Burrowing Owls in southeastern Texas used concrete roosts (Williford et al 2007). The ease with which Burrowing Owls colonize artificial cavities (Trulio 1995, Williford et al 2009) leads us to conclude that Burrowing Owls have flexible requirements for roost sites in winter. If suitable roost sites are densely spaced, Burrowing Owls can roost in close proximity to each other, as they did at Irapuato.…”

“…(Holroyd et al 2010). In southeastern Texas, Williford et al (2007Williford et al ( , 2009 described Burrowing Owls' winter roost habitats on agricultural lands composed of 61.5% bare soil, 15.5% pasture, 11.5% shrub, and the remainder other cover types. We hypothesized that winter habitat in central Mexico would be similar to winter habitat in Texas despite broad differences in land covers in these regions.…”

Contribuciones al análisis de mortalidad de vertebrados en carreteras

“…El mochuelo de madriguera Athene cunicularia emplea preferentemente drenajes de unos 16 cm. de diámetro con orientación este-oeste en zonas de rastrojeras (Williford et al 2009). Uno de los posibles efectos negativos de los pasos de fauna es que canalización de los movimientos a través de un número reducido de puntos podría ser aprovechado por los depredadores para establecer un área prioritaria de caza, minimizando la efectividad de la medida e incluso pudiendo poner en riesgo la viabilidad de alguna especie depredada.…”