Wildwatch Burrowing Owl

Why isn’t there an “I don’t know” button?

We don't have this choice because we really want your best guess! Sometimes you may find yourself looking at a blurred figure, but please choose what you think it might be. Several people look at each photo, and collectively those guesses can help us narrow it down; plus if a majority of guesses are telling us it's a roadrunner, then it probably is a roadrunner. If an animal really is impossible to identify, we'll be able to tell from the dissimilar guesses, and flag that photo for an expert to look at.

I think I made a mistake, can I go back?

No, but don’t worry! Multiple people always see the same photo, so your answer will be combined with the answers of other volunteers. After showing the image to many people, "incorrect" answers are outweighed by many correct answers.

Why are there some pictures without any animals?

The cameras are triggered by movement, and it could be waving grass, falling leaves, or moving patches of sunlight. Sometimes an animal activates the sensor but moves out of the shot so quickly that the camera doesn't get it. If you don't see any animals in a photo, just select "Nothing here" and move on to the next one.

Are the images in chronological order?

The photos usually appear in random order, but some may be in a sequence as an animal moves by the camera.

How can I see results from this project?

We will link to our results and news on these pages when available.

I have other questions, is there a way to contact someone?

Yes, please use the Zooniverse "Talk" feature! You can communicate with other citizen scientists, as well as project moderators and researchers.

Why do the adults sometimes kill and eat their own chicks?

In years when prey availability is really limited, the adults may not be able to adequately feed all of their chicks. At some point during the stress of food-limitation, an adult owl may decide it’s better to have less mouths to feed, in order to provide the best chance of survival for the remaining chicks.

What are the main predators of burrowing owls?

Burrowing owls are unlucky in that they are susceptible to predation by both ground and aerial predators. Before the chicks can fly, they are most vulnerable to predators that can enter their burrows (weasels, skunks). When they are young, they are naive to threats in their surroundings, and any predators with the opportunity can grab them at a burrow entrance. The most common predators of chicks we see are coyotes and ravens. Adults burrowing owls are at a higher risk of predation when they are out hunting for themselves and their families, so we are not often able to document their mortalities. However, the limited data we have suggests that their most common predator is the great horned owl.

What is the difference between the two types of bands on the owls? Why are some chicks banded, while others are not?

Our owls receive two types of bands when captured: 1) A silver band issued by the Bird Banding Lab (part of the United States Geological Service) with a unique number (think of it like the “Social Security Number” of the individual bird) and 2) a colored band with a number and/or letter (think of it like the bird’s name) that lets an observer identify the individual on a camera trap photo, or in the field with binoculars or a scope. As the chicks grow, their legs change from short and stubby, to long and lean. At about 4 weeks old, they are just the right size and shape to accommodate the two types of bands. Because the eggs hatch asynchronously (not at the same time), the chicks will all be slightly different sizes as they grow up together. Sometimes when we trap the chicks at the nest, some of them are too young to get both types of bands. If that is the case, we band them with just the silver USGS band first, and come back the next week to trap them again to put on the colored band.

There used to be more chicks at this burrow, but I didn’t see a mortality event. What happened?

Burrowing owls lay an egg approximately every other day. The eggs will hatch asynchronously (not at the same time), so in a clutch of 9 eggs, some chicks can be over 2 week apart in age! The chicks that hatch earlier tend to have the highest chance of survival because they out-compete their younger (and smaller) siblings for food. Sometimes we will see the youngest chicks emerge from the burrow for a day or two, but don’t see them again beyond that. While we don’t know for sure what ultimately happens to them, we hypothesize that they weaken or die of starvation and may be eaten by a sibling or parent within the burrow.