In October, Burrowing Owls finally received the status of a Candidate Species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act. For decades, the population of burrowing owls has been declining in the Bay area. At this time, the population of owls in our region is sustained by human intervention, with programs such as Captive Breeding, Juvenile overwintering, and Supplemental feeding keeping the owls from extirpation. Tragically, this decline is not restricted to the Bay Area, but is prevalent throughout the state.

In March, SCVBA joined the Centre for Biodiversity and several other organizations in petitioning the Fish and Wildlife Commission to provide the owls with the status of an endangered species, and with it - an increased level of protection. The petition was approved unanimously at the Commission meeting in October.

Candidacy for listing as an endangered species means that until a final decision is made, individual owls and their nests will be protected from harm. However, while protecting the owls, this designation does not protect the owl’s habitat from encroachment or neglect. So we must remain vigilant, and continue to advocate with local jurisdictions to allow burrowing owl habitat in landfills, parks and open space.

Here is a Mercury News story on the issue.