At Audubon’s Gillmor Sanctuary at Nice Salt Lake in Utah, the grass and scattered shrubs of the uplands function excellent habitat for Burrowing Owls.
Whereas most owls are tree dwellers, this ground-dwelling species prefers open, treeless landscapes with quick, sparse vegetation. It’s no coincidence that these habitats additionally assist the species who dig the burrows the owls nest in. Within the western United States, this contains floor squirrels, prairie canines, badgers, and desert tortoises.
Like many grassland species, Burrowing Owl populations have declined all through their vary as a consequence of habitat loss, human-wildlife battle, and different components. Because of downward inhabitants traits, Burrowing Owls are listed as endangered in Canada and as a Species of Best Conservation Want in every U.S. state they reside in.
At Gillmor Sanctuary, Audubon is addressing native inhabitants declines and bettering circumstances for Burrowing Owls and different wildlife by restoring native habitat.
Taking On Tamarisk
One of many major focuses of the restoration work has been eradicating invasive tamarisk timber. Tamarisk, native to Eurasia, was launched within the 1800’s and utilized in financial institution stabilization, nevertheless it has since unfold vastly in riparian corridors and uplands with excessive water tables. Because of this, areas of Gillmor Sanctuary that have been as soon as open grassland and shrubland reworked into dense, forested environments—and lots of grassland birds, mammals, and different wildlife dispersed from the realm.
Up to now, Audubon has cleared over 1,000 acres of tamarisk from Gillmor’s uplands and the uplands of neighboring properties. Many of those areas have additionally been seeded with native grasses, shrubs, and forbs. These efforts have restored the habitat again to low, open landscapes and elevated the abundance of native vegetation that Burrowing Owls, their prey, and different native wildlife rely upon.
Surveys carried out earlier than, throughout, and after restoration have helped gauge the response of grassland birds. With the tamarisk timber gone, Burrowing Owls—in addition to Lengthy-billed Curlews and Willets—are as soon as once more nesting within the uplands. Moreover, sightings of grassland songbirds resembling Horned Larks and Savannah Sparrows have elevated. Grassland mammals are additionally returning to those reopened areas, together with pronghorn and jackrabbits.
Tamarisk timber nonetheless cowl important surrounding areas, creating alternatives to collaborate throughout property boundaries and pursuits. Trying forward, we hope to broaden tamarisk removing efforts alongside Nice Salt Lake in partnership with duck golf equipment, the Salt Lake Metropolis airport, ranchers, and different landowners.
Restoration efforts on Gillmor Sanctuary’s uplands additionally transcend tamarisk. Learn the way Audubon is encouraging extra Burrowing Owls to nest on the sanctuary with new digs—actually! Read more.
We want to lengthen an enormous thanks to all the organizations and volunteers who made this work attainable. Thanks, additionally, to the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Federations’ America the Stunning Problem Grant and Browning Basis for funding this vital work.
