BACKGROUND

Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) are a ground-dwelling species of North American deserts and prairies. Throughout their range in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, they are listed to varying degrees as a species of concern due to their declining populations. The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is widely used by wildlife managers and organizations to monitor status and trends of bird populations as it is long-term, large-scale, and well established. Estimates from the BBS suggest Burrowing Owl populations range-wide have declined at a rate of 1.1% per year from 1966 to 2011 (Sauer et al. 2012).

For my Master’s Thesis from the University of New Mexico I am analyzing trends in the population, reproduction, and phenology of Burrowing Owls from a long-term study on Kirtland Air Force Base. After 16 years, we have documented a 98.1% decline in the owl population, as well as a significant decline in productivity and nesting success. Although commonly expressed anecdotally that Burrowing Owls have declined in New Mexico, BBS data show an increasing trend in the state of 1.0% per year since 1966 (Sauer et al. 2012). For this project I will thoroughly examine New Mexico BBS data to investigate trends in more detail. This information is of current interest to state wildlife agencies.

OBJECTIVE

I will utilize GIS to examine if increasing BBS trends for Burrowing Owls in New Mexico are regional, habitat specific, influenced by our land use practices or land ownership, or are influenced by climate variables.