| Habitat
Enhancements
OGC works one-on-one with landowners to first gain mutual
trust and understanding, and from this common ground, gains
a membership committed to honour their voluntary stewardship
agreements.
Starting in 2005, OGC has begun working with these members
to directly and significantly change management practices
to improve habitats for species at risk. Projects to date
have focused on Burrowing Owl habitats to improve nesting
and foraging habitats for the owls through off-site watering,
native seeding, mitigation of pest control (ground squirrels
and badgers), and mitigation of predation pressure.
Rationale:
- Increase/Improve Prey habitats
through off-site watering and native seeding projects. Studies
have shown a significant association between Burrowing Owl
reproductive success and prey availability. Burrowing owl
prey (most importantly, voles and mice) are more abundant
in wetter areas, where grass height and density is greater.
Telemetry studies have shown that owls select such areas
to hunt (e.g., healthy riparian areas, natural draws, and/or
grassed waterways).
- Increase nest/roost availability
through reduction of pest control (i.e., decrease
lethal control of ground squirrels and badgers). Nest holes
appear to be limiting for burrowing owls. Burrowing Owl
nest and roost holes are created primarily by badgers excavating
ground squirrel holes. New holes need to be created each
year to replace old holes that have filled in naturally,
or collapsed for any other reason. Higher densities of roosts
increase post-fledging survival.
- Mitigation of Predation Pressure
(e.g., removal of predator perches and nesting structures,
and preventative site-planning that ensures potential predator
perches or nesting platforms are not placed close to Burrowing
Owl nests). Certain avian predators, such as Great Horned
Owls, are in higher abundance currently than historically,
likely because of an increased number of human structures
used as supports for nests.
OGC will also measure quantitative impact of management
changes on reproductive success of burrowing owls.
Alberta Fish and Game Association
6924-104 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Tel: (780) 437-2342 | E-mail:
office@afga.org
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