Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS

THE ROLLERS AND THEIR ALLIES

THE OWLS

Burrowing Owl Behaviour

Of the habits of these Owls, Bendire further adds: “These birds are diurnal in their habits, and may be seen sitting in front of their burrows at any hour of the day. When not unduly molested, they are not at all shy, and usually allow one to approach them near enough to note their curious antics. Their long, slender legs give them a rather comical look — a sort of top-heavy appearance, and they are proverbially polite, being sure to bow to you as you pass by. Should you circle around them, they will keep you constantly in view, and if this is kept up, it sometimes seems as if they were in danger of twisting their heads off in attempting to keep you in sight. If you venture too close, they will rise and fly a short distance and generally settle down near the mouth of another burrow close by, uttering at the same time a chattering sort of note, and repeat the bowing performance. They hunt their prey mostly in the early evening and throughout the night, more rarely during the daytime. As soon as the sun goes down, they become exceedingly active, and especially so during the breeding season."

Their food consists largely of insects and small mammals as well as lizards and centipedes, etc. They are exceedingly voracious, eating fully as much as their own weight in twenty-four hours, if it can be obtained, and with a family of eight or ten to care for, it is easily seen what an enormous amount of food is required.is more or less migratory, especially in the more northern portion of its range, and when they return in the spring they appear to be always mated, and the mating is apparently for life. Nesting may begin in the latter part of March and extend into June, according to location.

The nesting burrows vary greatly in length, being rarely under five feet, and not infrequently are over ten feet long. They usually enter diagonally for two or three feet, and then turn in one direction or another, the nesting chamber being at the highest point. This chamber is ordinarily twelve to eighteen inches wide and is usually lined with dry horse or cow dung to a depth of one or two inches, though occasionally with grass, feathers, or hair. Both burrow and chamber are often in a very filthy condition. The eggs number from six to twelve, the usual complement being from seven to nine; they are pure white and glossy when clean, but are frequently much soiled by the unsanitary contents of the nest.

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