Aruba Burrowing Owl

 

The Burrowing Owl is Aruba’s national symbol. It is an endemic subspecies found only on Aruba and considered critically endangered.

We observed these Burrowing Owls actively hunting Whiptails during the daytime. They prefer mudflats and sandy areas for nesting.

They are very small owls and reach only about 20 cm in height. They are monogamous, remaining with the same partner their entire life with two nesting seasons per year. Up to five eggs every nesting season. There was actually three owlets in this nest.

Like in the United States, the owl nesting sites are all barricaded off with tubing and endangered species signs.

Their top threats, which include lack of viable nesting areas due to construction and urbanization on the island, is being indirectly poisoned by the food they eat due to humans poisoning critters and insects with pesticides. Their top predators are dogs, cats and boas.

Although we have observed Burrowing Owls in Florida, Utah, Colorado and Arizona it was still very cool to watch these little guys hunt.