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California Burrowing Owl Consortium

Conservation in California

San Francisco Bay Nesting Area

Burrowing owls are commensal with the California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi), and reside in undeveloped areas interspersed in a burgeoning human population.

An estimated 167 nesting pairs (1.8% of California’s population) remain; this represents a decline of about 50% since the mid 1980s.

Conservation challenges include preserving populations and commensal sciurids in grassland habitats in the face of significant development pressures, and developing conservation strategies that preserve sufficient habitats and prevent further population declines.