THE FLORIDA BURROWING OWL. 4Q1 



Mr. Walter Hoxie, in an interesting article on the breeding habits of this 

 species, says: "Although in the west the Bun-owing Owl usually inhabits the 

 deserted domicile of some animal, this does not seem to be the case with the 

 Florida Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia floridana). There are no animals 

 in the country the latter bird inhabits that make such holes as they require, 

 and I am assured that every hole is occupied by a pair of Owls in the 

 spring, and when one is caved in by the feet of cattle or horses, its occupants 

 at once proceed to excavate a new one. The Indians say that they use their 

 feet for this purpose, and dig pretty fast, too. Their imitation of the cry of the 

 bird was very much like the notes of the Cuckoo, and not at all Owl like in 

 its tone. * * * 



"The burrows are found either in the very highest parts of the prairie 

 or in the thickest vegetation, and occupy a peculiar sort of sandy flat ground, 

 which, however, is covered with a good tough turf. They 'are about 5 inches 

 wide and 3 high, and extend under ground, on the average, less than 6 feet. 

 A few found were 8 feet and over and only one less than 4 feet. The 

 superincumbent soil is from 8 inches to 1 foot thick, and the chamber at the 

 extremity in which the nest is placed is quite circular, and not less than 1 

 foot in diameter. It is higher than the passageway leading to it, and being 

 likewise slightly domed, brings the top quite near to the surface of the 

 ground. It is this part of the habitation which is most often caved in by the 

 feet of passing cattle. The sand that is thrown out at the mouth of the burrow 

 makes quite a conspicuous mound in the open prairie, but in the 'roughs,' 

 or those places that have not been burned over for some years, the weeds 

 and grass are rich and rank about it, doubtless fertilized by the droppings 

 and castings of the inhabitants. This hides the burrow pretty effectually 

 from the casual observer, but after a little experience these circular patches 

 of richer vegetation were quite valuable as guides in my search. I found no 

 very large towns, the usual number of burrows being five or six. The largest 

 number found together was eleven, and the smallest three. The holes open 

 to all points of the compass, although one of the oldest settlers in the region 

 assured me that they always extended south under ground. They seldom 

 make much of a turn. When one hole was found I always looked for others 

 within at least a rod, and occasionally they were not more than a yard 

 apart." 1 



Mr. J. F. Menge writes me from Myers, Florida, as follows: "The 

 Florida Bun-owing Owl nests on the high open prairies in this vicinity, 

 beginning to lay about March 15 and up to the middle of May. The eggs 

 range from four to eight to a set, usually six. The burrows vary greatly 

 both in length and depth. I have found nests all the way from 6 to 16 

 feet from the entrance, and only 5 inches to 3 feet under ground. The 

 nest is always placed from 2 to 4 inches above the level of the passageway 

 in a circular chamber near the end of the burrow. The eggs are laid on a 



1 Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XIV, 1H89, No. 3, pp. 33, 34. 

 26957 Bull. 1 26 



