Diet of Western Burrowing Owls Wintering in Southern Texas

Littles, Chanda J.; Williford, Damon; Skoruppa, Mary Kay; Woodin, Marc C.; Hickman, Graham C.

doi:10.3356/0892-1016(2007)41[307:dowbow]2.0.co;2

Cited by 12 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…We were unable to locate a documented occurrence of any of these three species as prey of western burrowing owls, aside from our study of winter foods (Littles et al, 2007). While extensive literature exists on diet and foraging ecology of western burrowing owls (Haug et al, 1993;Clark et al, 1997), nearly all studies have been conducted north of the known ranges of these three species.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Here we report identification of remains of the northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori), fulvous harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), and Merriam's pocket mouse (Perognathus merriami) as prey of the western burrowing owl. None of these species had been identified as prey until the winter diet of burrowing owls in southern Texas was examined (Littles et al, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rodents New to the Diet of the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)

Williford

Woodin

Skoruppa

et al. 2009

The Southwestern Naturalist

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confidence: 92%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodents New to the Diet of the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)

Williford

Woodin

Skoruppa

et al. 2009

The Southwestern Naturalist

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“…Su ecología trófica ha sido estudiada tanto en el hemisferio norte (e.g., Thomsen, 1971;Martin, 1971Martin, , 1973Maser et al, 1970Maser et al, , 1971Hennemann & Willard, 1980;Tyler, 1983;MacCracken et al, 1985;Thompson & Anderson, 1988;Green et al, 1993;Plumpton & Lutz, 1993a;John & Romanow, 1993, 1998Haug et al, 1993;Morgan et al, 1994;Sissons et al, 2001;Valdéz-Gómez & Rocha, 2005;Littles et al, 2007;Wiley, 2008;Gervais et al, 2000;York et al, 2002;Klute et al, 2003;Moulton et al, 2005;Valdéz-Gómez & Enríquez-Rocha, 2005;Poulin et al, 2011), como en el hemisferio sur (e.g., Yañez & Jaksic, 1979;Pulido & Aguilar, 1979;Jaksic & Schlatter et al, 1980;Marti, 1981;Núñez & Yánez, 1982;Bellocq, 1987;Meserve et al, 1987;Massoia et al, 1988;Martins & Eglar, 1990;Silva-Porto & Cerqueira, 1990;Soares et al, 1992;Bellocq & Kravetz, 1994;Torres-Contreras et al, 1994;Vieira & Teixeira, 1996;De Santis et al, 1997;…”

Section: áRea De Estudiounclassified

VARIACIÓN ESTACIONAL DE LA DIETA DEL MOCHUELO DE HOYO (Athene cunicularia) EN UN HÁBITAT XEROFÍTICO DEL NORESTE DE VENEZUELA

Roque-Vásquez¹,

Muñoz-Gil²,

Marín-Espinoza³

et al. 2017

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“…Rodents have been shown to be important in the diet of burrowing owls in several other studies as well. Littles, Williford, Skoruppa, Woodin, and Hickman (2007) conducted a study of wintering burrowing owls in Texas and found that rodents, such as northern pygmy mice (Baiomys taylori) and fulvous harvest mice (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), were particularly important. In this study, even though insects dominated the owls' diet in quantity, small mammals and birds accounted for the majority of the prey biomass.…”

Section: Related Research Winter Ecology Of the Western Burrowing Owlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, even though insects dominated the owls' diet in quantity, small mammals and birds accounted for the majority of the prey biomass. Arthropods made up 98 percent of the total prey items consumed and primarily included crickets, as well as Lepidopteran larvae, beetles, spiders, and earwigs (Littles et al, 2007). Only 2 percent of all prey items consisted of vertebrates; vertebrates, however, comprised 71 percent of the total prey biomass.…”

Section: Related Research Winter Ecology Of the Western Burrowing Owlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) Diet and Abundance at a Stopover and Wintering Ground on Southeast Farallon Island, California

Chandler¹

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On the Farallon Islands the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a native migrant and predator of the non-native house mouse (Mus musculus) and the native ashy storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa). Burrowing owl predation on the ashy stormpetrel is unnaturally exacerbated by the abundance of house mouse prey in the fall, which may encourage more owls to overwinter. When the cyclic mouse population crashes in winter, the owls prey upon storm-petrels, a species of conservation concern. In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed eradication of the house mouse from the Farallon Islands in order to reduce owl predation on and aid recovery of the storm-petrel. From September 2010 to May 2011, I conducted daily owl surveys and a pellet study of burrowing owls on Southeast Farallon Island, the largest island. The goal was to document burrowing owl abundance, overwintering duration, and seasonal changes in diet composition prior to any mouse eradication effort. During my study I counted 23 owl migrants; a subset of these owls overwintered an average of 118 days. Insects were most numerous, but mice and storm-petrels comprised 98% of the total prey biomass in the diet. Mouse consumption correlated positively with mouse abundance, and owls exhibited seasonal prey switching behavior from mice to storm-petrels. It is likely that mouse eradication would result in fewer owls overwintering and subsequently reduce impacts to the storm-petrel population. v DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the many colleagues, interns, friends, and family who have supported me along the way: Thank you, Jim, and my Farallon family, for teaching me about Island life, for staring at the rocks with me, and for sharing your daily experiences, no matter how small. Thank you, Lynne, for taking me under your wing and providing guidance and lift when I needed it. Thank you, dear Friends, for enthusiastically dissecting pellets (especially the stinky ones) with me, and for always cheering me on. Thank you, loving Parents, for your amazing generosity, for providing warm clothing and flea powder, and for never giving up on me. Thank you, Ed, for being my greatest champion, for holding my hand, for being so very patient, and for braving the Pacific to bring me home. Finally, I thank you, Rosalee, for carrying me to the end, even as I carried you! May you always have angels and owls watching over you.

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Diet of Western Burrowing Owls Wintering in Southern Texas

Cited by 12 publications

References 19 publications

Rodents New to the Diet of the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)

Rodents New to the Diet of the Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)

VARIACIÓN ESTACIONAL DE LA DIETA DEL MOCHUELO DE HOYO (Athene cunicularia) EN UN HÁBITAT XEROFÍTICO DEL NORESTE DE VENEZUELA

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) Diet and Abundance at a Stopover and Wintering Ground on Southeast Farallon Island, California

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