Whooo Can Help Owls? You Can!

Our tenth year of Owl Watch has begun with training hosted by Audubon Western Everglades at Mackle Park on Marco Island. Last season, we had incredible success with 245 pairs having 173 nests and fledging 519 chicks on Marco. Starter burrows were an integral part of helping sustain the population. Sadly, mortality and rescues were at our highest ever documented. Burrowing owls are a state-threatened species facing many threats from habitat loss to car strikes, to rat poison, to outdoor cats, to other human disturbances. Over 100 volunteers help us monitor around 400 sites year-round on the island and additional sites in Naples. Under the University of Georgia, I have been able to further our research and documentation under a master's program thanks to the support of Dr. Michael Yabsley and my committee. I will continue to band owls with the help of volunteers under state and federal permits, thanks to Dr. Raoul Boughton.

We were very excited to have our partners join us for training. Thank you to Lauren Barkley and Chelsea Kolkin from the von Arx Hospital, Gary Miller and Ron Hofsteader from MIPD Code Enforcement, Marco Island City Councilor Palumbo, Beach Advisory and Coastal Resources Member Jim Scarpa, Paul Trapp from Seal Em Out LLC, and Frank Steiger for taking photos!

Here’s How You Can Help Marco’s Burrowing Owls

• Give them plenty of space, especially by roadways, and use binoculars to watch natural behaviors.
• Do not post locations of owl chicks online as they are private property, and it can cause mass disturbance, causing owls to abandon the site.
• Educate any new citizens or tourists politely to not enter private property.
• Do not park on vacant lots or in swales with owl burrows.
• Report any new burrows spotted to owlwatchmarco@gmail.com.
• Email us if you are interested in providing a starter burrow in your own front yard.
• Email us with any photos of banded owls with their location. Please use a camera and do not harass owls with short-distance cell phone cameras.
• Email us with any reports of injured or deceased owls or contact the Conservancy at 239-262-2273.
• Pick up any trash seen, as owls find items to decorate their burrows with and get entangled.
• Do not feed or give water to burrowing owls. They are incredible hunters, and food items draw predators to their burrows, putting adults, eggs, and chicks in danger.
• Adopt an owl on our website: www.audubonwe.org/owlwatch.
• Donate to AWE to help support our conservation efforts and needs for supplies at our website: audubonwe.org!