Developing Agricultural Best ... - Rangeland Wildlife · Services and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognize that agriculture provides a valuable benefit

Developing Agricultural Best Management

Practices for the Florida Burrowing OwlJulie Burford

University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Range Cattle REC, Ona, FL

University of Florida, School of Forest Resources & Conservation, Gainesville, FL

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bartow, FL

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer

Services and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission recognize that agriculture provides a valuable

benefit to the conservation and management of fish and

wildlife in the state. Efforts have been initiated to adopt a

new voluntary wildlife Best Management Practices (BMP) for

16 state imperiled species, including the Florida burrowing

owl. Though owls are known to thrive in agricultural settings

where vegetation is low and canopy is open, the effects of

human and mechanical disturbance on owl behavior and nest

success is unknown.

• Determine burrowing owl response to approaching

various disturbance mechanisms (i.e. pedestrian,

terrain vehicle, tractor).

• 1. Distance between disturbance and

burrow at time of flush

• 2. Time spent away from burrow

• Evaluate success of burrows located in areas of

high and low habitual disturbance

• Map burrows to determine length, depth, and

overall dimensions.

Introduction

Objectives

Want to know more? Contact:

Julie Burford

University of Florida, M.S. student

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, Private Lands Biologist

[email protected]

(863) 533-2051, ext. 119

More Information

Data Collection

Behavioral Assessment

• Locate and GPS active burrow locations on rangelands in

southwest and south central Florida

• Approach burrow sites via walking, ATV, and tractor

starting from 300 m away.

• Record distance from burrow when:

• Owl behavior is altered

• Owl flushes

• Measure distance owl travels and time it takes to return

Nest Success Assessment

• Set game cameras in proximity to 10 “high disturbance”

and 10 “low disturbance” burrow locations

• Examine frequency of disturbance (cattle, pedestrians,

vehicles, and/or other heavy equipment) that occurs near

burrow site

• Measure nest success at burrow sites (≥1 owl offspring)

Burrow Mapping

• Utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine

length, depth, direction, and overall shape of owl

burrows. Special attention will be focused on burrows

along fence lines to determine directional characteristics.

• GPR is applied to the surface of the burrow and produces

3-D images of underground burrows.

Results from this project aim to provide recommendations

for the development of burrowing owl BMPs on agricultural

land in Florida. Currently, silvicultural BMPs recommend

avoiding direct contact with owls and their burrows. Results

from this study hope to provide landowners and managers

with better guidelines on protecting burrowing owls on their

land and how to comply in the agricultural wildlife BMP

program.

Recommendations may include:

- Avoid approaching within X feet of burrow

- Avoid repeated visits to burrow during the breeding

season (February to May)

Application of Results and Implications for

the Agricultural Community

Adult Florida burrowing owl on private rangeland in Highlands County FL

Pair of adult Florida burrowing owls on moderately grazed rangeland in Okeechobee

County, FL

Burrowing owl burrow near fence post on rangeland in Okeechobee County, FL