The Burrowing Owl 



fullest height, outwardly calm and self-contained, pausing in the discourse 

 to note its effect upon the audience, and collect their wits for the next 

 rhetorical flourish. And no distant likeness between these frothy orators 

 and others is found in the celerity with which they subside and seek their 

 holes on the slightest intimation of danger." 



These curious Owls are alone among the northern land birds in the 

 choice of subterranean dwellings. On the Great Plains they avail them- 

 selves largely of deserted prairie dog holes, but in California their choice 

 falls oftenest upon the burrows of the ever present ground squirrels 

 {Citellus sp.). Badger holes are also great favorites, but no offering of 

 the lesser rodents is despised. It is probable that the Burrowing Owl 

 does not originate its 

 burrow, although in the 

 case of the smaller ro- 

 dents the tunnels require 

 to be enlarged. This 

 the bird does, not with 

 its beak, but with its 

 powerful claws, loosen- 

 ing the dirt and kicking 

 it backward by succes- 

 sive stages, until it is 

 ejected at the entrance. 

 A typical burrow may 

 descend sharply three or 

 four feet, then turn and 

 pursue a slightly ascend- 

 ing course until an ample 

 nesting chamber, a foot 

 or more in width and 

 six inches deep, is 

 reached. Some tunnels 

 are much more extend- 

 ed. Tyler, in Fresno 

 County, followed one for 

 eighteen feet, and was 

 rewarded by a single egg 

 — not to mention fleas. 



The nesting cavity 

 is heavily lined with 

 dried horse dung, torn 

 to feathery shreds and 



Photo by Pierce 



THE BURROW 



1 I2J 



