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Developing Agricultural Best Management
Practices for the Florida Burrowing OwlJulie Burford
University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Range Cattle REC, Ona, FL
University of Florida, School of Forest Resources & Conservation, Gainesville, FL
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bartow, FL
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission recognize that agriculture provides a valuable
benefit to the conservation and management of fish and
wildlife in the state. Efforts have been initiated to adopt a
new voluntary wildlife Best Management Practices (BMP) for
16 state imperiled species, including the Florida burrowing
owl. Though owls are known to thrive in agricultural settings
where vegetation is low and canopy is open, the effects of
human and mechanical disturbance on owl behavior and nest
success is unknown.
• Determine burrowing owl response to approaching
various disturbance mechanisms (i.e. pedestrian,
terrain vehicle, tractor).
• 1. Distance between disturbance and
burrow at time of flush
• 2. Time spent away from burrow
• Evaluate success of burrows located in areas of
high and low habitual disturbance
• Map burrows to determine length, depth, and
overall dimensions.
Introduction
Objectives
Want to know more? Contact:
Julie Burford
University of Florida, M.S. student
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Private Lands Biologist
Julie.Burford@MyFWC.com
(863) 533-2051, ext. 119
More Information
Data Collection
Behavioral Assessment
• Locate and GPS active burrow locations on rangelands in
southwest and south central Florida
• Approach burrow sites via walking, ATV, and tractor
starting from 300 m away.
• Record distance from burrow when:
• Owl behavior is altered
• Owl flushes
• Measure distance owl travels and time it takes to return
Nest Success Assessment
• Set game cameras in proximity to 10 “high disturbance”
and 10 “low disturbance” burrow locations
• Examine frequency of disturbance (cattle, pedestrians,
vehicles, and/or other heavy equipment) that occurs near
burrow site
• Measure nest success at burrow sites (≥1 owl offspring)
Burrow Mapping
• Utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine
length, depth, direction, and overall shape of owl
burrows. Special attention will be focused on burrows
along fence lines to determine directional characteristics.
• GPR is applied to the surface of the burrow and produces
3-D images of underground burrows.
Results from this project aim to provide recommendations
for the development of burrowing owl BMPs on agricultural
land in Florida. Currently, silvicultural BMPs recommend
avoiding direct contact with owls and their burrows. Results
from this study hope to provide landowners and managers
with better guidelines on protecting burrowing owls on their
land and how to comply in the agricultural wildlife BMP
program.
Recommendations may include:
- Avoid approaching within X feet of burrow
- Avoid repeated visits to burrow during the breeding
season (February to May)
Application of Results and Implications for
the Agricultural Community
Adult Florida burrowing owl on private rangeland in Highlands County FL
Pair of adult Florida burrowing owls on moderately grazed rangeland in Okeechobee
County, FL
Burrowing owl burrow near fence post on rangeland in Okeechobee County, FL
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