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Species Assessment for Western Burrowing Owl (Athene Cunicularia Hypugaea ) in Wyoming

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Species Assessment for Western Burrowing Owl (Athene Cunicularia Hypugaea ) in Wyoming SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR WESTERN BURROWING OWL (ATHENE CUNICULARIA HYPUGAEA ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 3 SARAH J. LANTZ , HAMILTON SMITH AND DOUGLAS A. KEINATH 1 Research Assistant, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Box 3166, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071. 2 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 3 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] By Rebekah Smith (2001) Wyoming Natural Diversity Database For non-profit use only; please use full citation. For other uses, contact us at [email protected] prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming September 2004 Lantz, Smith, and Keinath – Athene cunicularia hypugaea September 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 5 Global Distribution..........................................................................................................................6 Population Connectivity..................................................................................................................6 Regional Distribution......................................................................................................................7 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 8 Breeding macrohabitat ....................................................................................................................9 Breeding microhabitat.....................................................................................................................9 Wintering Habitat..........................................................................................................................14 Area Requirements........................................................................................................................14 Landscape Pattern .........................................................................................................................15 Movement and Activity Patterns ............................................................................................17 Daily Activity................................................................................................................................17 Migration.......................................................................................................................................17 Between-year Dispersal.................................................................................................................18 Post-fledging Dispersal .................................................................................................................18 Reproduction.........................................................................................................................19 Breeding Behavior.........................................................................................................................19 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................................20 Reproductive Success....................................................................................................................20 Population Demographics......................................................................................................21 Fecundity.......................................................................................................................................21 Survivorship ..................................................................................................................................22 Limiting Factors............................................................................................................................23 Metapopulation Dynamics ............................................................................................................24 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................24 Diet................................................................................................................................................24 Foraging Behavior.........................................................................................................................25 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................26 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 27 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................27 Biological Conservation Issues..............................................................................................29 Abundance and Population Trends ...............................................................................................29 Range Contraction.........................................................................................................................32 Intrinsic Vulnerability ...................................................................................................................34 Extrinsic Threats ...........................................................................................................................35 Habitat Loss and Fragmentation.............................................................................................35 Depredation.............................................................................................................................37 Pesticides ................................................................................................................................38 Incidental Shooting.................................................................................................................38 Indirect Effects of Sylvatic Plague .........................................................................................39 Protected Areas .............................................................................................................................40 Page 1 of 70 Lantz, Smith, and Keinath – Athene cunicularia hypugaea September 2004 CONSERVATION ACTION ................................................................................................................ 40 Existing or future conservation plans .....................................................................................40 Conservation Elements..........................................................................................................43 Management Recommendations ...................................................................................................43 Habitat Enhancement and Conservation.................................................................................43 Prairie Dog Conservation .......................................................................................................44 Prey Abundance and Habitat Conservation............................................................................45 Continued Research................................................................................................................45 Public Education and Cooperation .........................................................................................46 Inventory and Monitoring .............................................................................................................47 Summary of Conservation Action ..........................................................................................48 TABLES AND FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... 50 Table 1. Apparent nest success and productivity of a Burrowing Owl population in the Thunder Basin National Grasslands, WY 2001-2003........................................................................50 Table 2. Official status of Wyoming populations of Burrowing Owls. .......................................51 Table 4. Breeding Bird Survey results indicating population trends for Burrowing Owls for Wyoming, the surrounding region, and the United States...................................................53 Table 5. Results from standardized roadside surveys conducted within black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Thunder Basin National Grasslands, WY, 2001-2003 ................................54 Figure 1. Burrowing Owl nesting in the Thunder Basin National Grasslands.............................55 Figure 2. Male and female Burrowing Owls................................................................................55
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