Burrowing Owl Conservation: Artificial Burrows and Golf Courses Matthew Denman Smith Courtney J. ConwayArizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Golf Courses in the United StatesEffects on environment17,000 coursesCover 8,000 km2

New Golf Course ConstructionAverage of 296 per yearConsideration of wildlife needs

Can golf courses aid burrowing owl populations?

Owls and Golf CoursesOwls are often found on golf courses

May provide additional nesting opportunities

Range ContractionWellicome, TI & GL Holyroyd. 2001. J of Rapt Res. 35: 269-273

Natural BurrowsObligate secondary-cavity nesters

Abandoned burrows of fossorial mammals

Declining Numbers of Suitable BurrowsEradicationLoss of Habitat

Artificial BurrowsMimic natural burrowsOffset loss of natural burrows

Burrow Construction

Objectives and MethodsExamine efficacy of artificial burrows on golf courses in eastern Washington

Comparison of different burrow types

1) Natural burrows off golf courses

2) Natural burrows on golf courses

3) Artificial burrows off golf courses

4) Artificial burrows on golf coursesn = 166n = 85 n = 14n = 130

Golf Course Study BurrowsPlacement of burrows varied to examine landscape features that may affect occupancy and successCart pathTreeNearest natural burrowNearest artificial burrowRoughFairwayTee boxGreenSprinklerMaintained area

Determining FecundityTwice weekly nest visitsInfra-red probing of burrows

Burrow FidelityTrappingBanding

Results

ColonizationOwls used artificial burrows on only 2 courses

Artificial Burrow Use

Number of nests increased slightly 2nd year post-installation

Total number of adults increased slightly 2nd year post-installation

Percent of golf course birds using artificial burrows increased

Golf Course Landscape Features:

occupied vs. unoccupied burrows

Occupied burrows were further from maintained areas

n = 8n = 57t = -1.61df = 63P = 0.05

Occupied burrows were further from sprinklers

t = 1.40 df = 126 P = 0.10n = 8n = 120

Occupied burrows were closer to natural burrows

t = -2.08 df = 58 P = 0.02n = 8n = 52

Success of Different Burrow TypesDamon Hearne

Artificial course burrows were used as often as artificial burrows off courses

n = 16n = 16n = 16n = 26

Nests in artificial burrows were as successful as other burrow types

n = 83n = 10n = 7n = 4

No difference in fecundity between burrow types

F = 1.41 P = 0.25n = 4n = 7n = 10n = 83

Burrow Fidelity

Golf course burrows had higher site fidelity then burrows off courses2 = 5.0 df = 1 P = 0.025n = 36n = 6

ConclusionsIncrease # of occupied artificial burrows on golf courses after installation.

Occupancy of artificial burrows on golf courses = occupancy of artificial burrows off golf courses.

High nesting success for artificial burrows on golf courses.

Return rates of owls using burrows on golf courses was higher than off golf courses.

RecommendationsGolf courses should be evaluated for potential of burrow installation on a per course basis.

Install burrows in non-maintained areas, 35m away from maintained areas, 40m away from sprinklers.

Potential ProblemsChanges in course design can reverse gainsArtificial burrows need yearly maintenance

Acknowledgments

Horn Rapids Golf CourseSun Willows Golf CourseMeadow Springs Golf CourseCanyon Lakes Golf CourseWest Richland Golf CourseBuckskin Golf CourseMoses Pointe Golf CourseColumbia Point Golf CourseUS Golf AssociationNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationUS Geological SurveyBureau of Land ManagementWashington Dept. of Fish and WildlifeU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe University of ArizonaWashington State UniversityPort-of-PascoKVEWGolf Course NewsLower Columbia Basin Audubon SocietyCharlotte ReepDon LarsenHeidi BrunkalRebecca ChuckChris ForristalLisa EllisVicki GarciaCarol YdeMany field assistants

Additionally, the percent of golf course owls using artificial burrows increased after installation. Assuming that locating burrows takes time, these figures suggest an increasing trend in both the total number of owls on golf courses and the number of artificial burrows used. Change Slide