{"id":14672,"date":"2014-04-02T06:19:45","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T12:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=14672"},"modified":"2025-10-13T08:28:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:28:47","slug":"young-burrowing-owls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/02\/young-burrowing-owls\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Burrowing Owls"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"JuvenileJuvenile Burrowing Owl looking high in the sky – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The past\u00a0few years I have missed seeing and photographing young Burrowing Owls on Antelope Island State Park for numerous reasons.<\/p>\n

During the breeding season of 2011 some photographers<\/del> people trampled over a burrow that had been productive for years that was close to the road and that burrow has not been active since.<\/p>\n

These owls are so appealing, cute, and funny that they can be “loved to death<\/a><\/span>“.<\/p>\n

Care <\/em>must be taken around their burrows as their burrows can extend way beyond the openings to the burrows and people walking on them can crush the burrows possibly trapping the owls inside.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Burrowing Owl with its head cocked – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year there was a banding program of the Burrowing Owls on Antelope Island to\u00a0study their migration patterns, mortality and to help understand why these “Clowns of the Desert” are in decline throughout the western United States.<\/p>\n

I am completely for the research but even the disturbance caused by banding seemed to have an affect on the Burrowing Owls on Antelope Island last year too.<\/p>\n

It seemed that all of the owls from the burrows close to the roads on Antelope Island dispersed much sooner than they had in years past which limited the time I, and others, had to see and photograph them.<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung Burrowing Owl with an eye on the sky\u00a0– Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/750, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

There are\u00a0various reasons for the decline of Burrowing Owls in the western U.S. including habitat destruction which is no surprise since many of the species\u00a0that are threatened or endangered\u00a0throughout the U.S. are in decline because we are encroaching on and destroying their habitat.<\/p>\n

Range land being converted to irrigated farmland is another reason as is widespread\u00a0elimination of prairie dogs and ground squirrels.<\/p>\n

These beautiful owls do need our protection and what they don’t need is people tromping over their burrows, getting too close, or bothering them for too long.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Burrowing Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

Here is a neat Burrowing Owl cam out of Florida<\/a><\/span> to view.<\/p>\n

For more information on the ethics of photographing nesting birds or chicks check out the Principles of Birding Ethics<\/a><\/span> published by the American Birding Association.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The past few years I have missed seeing and photographing young Burrowing Owls on Antelope Island State Park for numerous reasons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":160077,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,52,1022,945,26,2162],"tags":[55,4214,4889,11978,711,4067,56,710,3967,294,4353,4516,4193],"class_list":["post-14672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-burrowing-owls","category-davis-county-utah","category-nesting-birds","category-utah","category-wildlife-ethics-wildlife-ethics","tag-athene-cunicularia","tag-burrowing-owl","tag-clowns-of-the-desert","tag-desert-island","tag-ethics","tag-immature","tag-juveniles-2","tag-nesting-ethics","tag-owl","tag-owls","tag-owls-of-utah","tag-western-burrowing-owl","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-5223.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3OE","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":34929,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/01\/19\/an-adult-burrowing-owl-in-early-spring-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":0},"title":"An adult Burrowing Owl in early spring on Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Among those spring migrants that I most look forward to seeing are the Western Burrowing Owls.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An adult Burrowing Owl in early spring next to it burrow on Antelope Island State Park, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-spring-mia-mcpherson-1100.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-spring-mia-mcpherson-1100.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-spring-mia-mcpherson-1100.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-spring-mia-mcpherson-1100.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20844,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/03\/03\/the-burrowing-owls-are-arriving-caution-extreme-cuteness-ahead\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":1},"title":"The Burrowing Owls Are Arriving – Caution, Extreme Cuteness Ahead!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Burrowing Owls are arriving - Caution, Extreme Cuteness Ahead! Burrowing Owls are enchanting, entertaining and so cute they are irresistible. Everyone seems to love them.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Burrowing Owl at a burrow, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-burrow-adult-mia-mcpherson-6732.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-burrow-adult-mia-mcpherson-6732.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-burrow-adult-mia-mcpherson-6732.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-burrow-adult-mia-mcpherson-6732.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18739,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/01\/20\/calling-juvenile-burrowing-owl\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":2},"title":"Calling Juvenile Burrowing Owl","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The first year I after I moved to Utah was great for photographing Burrowing Owls and their young both on Antelope Island State Park and the causeway to it.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calling juvenile Burrowing Owl, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/burrowing-owl-calling-mia-mcpherson-5102.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/burrowing-owl-calling-mia-mcpherson-5102.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/burrowing-owl-calling-mia-mcpherson-5102.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2096,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/03\/14\/burrowing-owls-loved-to-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":3},"title":"Burrowing Owls – Loved to Death?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"What made me sick was that there were three of those people tromping around the owl's burrow. I mean RIGHT up on it. They had no need to be that close but they were.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Burrowing Owl lift off, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-3910.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-3910.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-3910.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-flight-mia-mcpherson-3910.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9781,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/10\/11\/juvenile-burrowing-owl-in-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":4},"title":"Juvenile Burrowing Owl In Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Burrowing Owls are iconic birds of Antelope Island State Park, I can't tell you how many times people write to me and ask \"Where can I see Burrowing Owls on Antelope Island State Park?\".","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Burrowing Owl juvenile on a July morning, causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-chick-mia-mcpherson-0585.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-chick-mia-mcpherson-0585.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-chick-mia-mcpherson-0585.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3090,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/09\/11\/sequel-to-burrowing-owls-loved-to-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":14672,"position":5},"title":"Sequel to: Burrowing Owls – Loved to Death?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this year in March I wrote an article titled \"Burrowing Owls - Loved to Death?\" and this post is a sequel to it.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Burrowing Owl on a concrete wall, causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-0364.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-0364.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-0364.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}