WELCOME HOME TO ALBERTA: BURROWING OWL’S ALBERTA-MEXICO FLIGHT MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE
August 13, 2024
13 AUGUST 2024 (Calgary, AB) – In an exciting milestone for their conservation program, staff at the Wilder Institute were thrilled to welcome home burrowing owl, “Green48”, who has returned from her winter stay in Mexico. Her name comes from the green-coloured leg bands used by the Archibald Biodiversity Centre to identify owlets under human care.
“For the first time since the program began in 2016, a head-started burrowing owl has migrated to Mexico, overwintered, and returned to nest in Alberta. Our team recently had a reunion with Green48. We brought her into the head-starting program in July 2022 as an owlet that was unlikely to survive her first year of life. After spending the winter under the diligent care of our staff, we released her back to the prairies in May 2023 into an artificial burrow”, said Graham Dixon-MacCallum, Conservation Research Population Ecologist at the Wilder Institute. “Migration to and from Mexico across the continental USA is a significant challenge for burrowing owls and many do not survive the trip. Having this burrowing owl return and nest is an example of why we should be hopeful for this endangered species”.
Taking Flight
In October 2023, Green48 embarked on her first migration south, reaching Mexico near the U.S. border. A small solar-powered satellite transmitter that she wears like a backpack allowed the organization to track her journey over the past year. The device transmits location data every minute for 10 hours before turning off to recharge. The information gathered helps inform conservation efforts by highlighting potential threats the birds may encounter during migration. In March 2024, Green48 began her return north, traveling through several states back to Alberta.
Return to the Prairies
Upon her arrival to the prairies, Green48 found a wild male partner and nested at a site 60 km from the CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area, where she was released in 2023. The abundance of songbird feathers scattered around her burrow indicates that she and her mate are exceptional hunters. Using a burrow scope, the field team has observed at least three nestlings in her burrow.
A Conservation Milestone
As Green48 continues to reside in Alberta and migrate south for the winter, the Wilder Institute will track her journey with her transmitter. This exciting development highlights the success and impact of the head-starting program. By intervening during a critical early phase in the owl’s life cycle, the program aims to improve reproductive success and increase survival rates. It involves meticulous monitoring and data collection while serving as a platform for community engagement and environmental stewardship.
“The Archibald Biodiversity Centre provides a temporary home for wild burrowing owlets, offering a secure environment, balanced nutrition, and necessary medical care,” explained Caitlin Slade, Animal Care Manager at the Wilder Institute’s Archibald Biodiversity Centre and the Wildlife Conservation Centre. “We ensure minimal human interaction to keep the process as natural as possible,” Slade added.
The Wilder Institute has released 145 head-started burrowing owls back into the wild since the program’s inception.
To learn more about the burrowing owl head starting program, click here.
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For more information contact:
Alison Archambault
Director, Brand & Engagement
403.232.7766 | 403.919.9482 | mediarelations@wilderinstitute.org
The Wilder Institute is a global authority on wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve their own natural resources to positively impact both nature and communities. The staff and volunteers of Wilder Institute are passionate about restoring balance to wildlife and human life, together. Using innovative science, our team is working to save threatened and endangered species and return them to the wild, where our planet needs them to be. We proudly operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre, Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Our conservation expertise is in conservation breeding and community conservation, where we collaborate with community members to positively impact both nature and local communities. Learn more at WilderInstitute.org to join us in making the world a wilder place.