Aruba’s Burrowing Owls

Aruba’s burrowing owls are fascinating creatures. They nest in the ground as opposed to in trees. They’re well adapted to the environment as their coloring and marking makes them difficult to spot in the landscape. I made the following video when I happened upon a pair nesting at the base of a sand pile. No doubt this was easier to dig than the usual burrows. Take a look.

As you can see, their movements are rather snappy. One stands guard from his perch atop the sand pile, while the other minds the next below. I never disturb these owls. Instead, I use the maximum zoom on my video camera which enables me to stand off a good distance.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on January 18, 2009 at 10:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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Owls in Aruba

Given that Aruba is a desert island, the wildlife is limited as compared to more tropical locations. However, there are quite a few interesting birds to  be seen, including these burrowing owls. You have to look at this photo very carefully to spot the owl on the rock in the center of the photo.

The owls are very skittish. I took this photo from about 100′ away, which is why the resolution is poor. If you get much closer, they fly away. Notice the burrow beneath the rock in the lower left of the picture. That’s where they nest. I’m always extremely careful not to disturb the next or the owls themselves. There aren’t many of these guys left on the island. The good news is that conservation efforts are helping.

Published in: on August 30, 2008 at 11:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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