2004, Burrowing Owl: In MULTISAR: The Milk River Basin Habitat Suitability Models for Selected Wildlife Management Species. Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 86, by Brad A. Downey, Brandy L. Downey, Rachael W. Quinlain, Oriano Castelli, Vernon J. Remesz and Paul F. Jones, 36-41. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Sustainable Resource Management, Fish and Wildlife Division., 2004.
Summary
Conclusions: Soil texture, native prairie and grassland cover, and proximity to linear disturbances affect habitat suitability for burrowing owls. Native prairie coverage was considered the most critical variable in determining the most suitable habitat. The higher the percentage of native prairie, the more suitable it is for burrowing owl habitat.*Note that this study generated landscape level models with coarse variables, and the thresholds and values used may not be directly applicable to other areas or for site-specific analysis. Thresholds/Learnings: Synopsis: This report provides information on the habitat suitability requirements of the burrowing owl. Due to limited available data, the model that this report is based upon [...]
Summary
Conclusions:
Soil texture, native prairie and grassland cover, and proximity to linear disturbances affect habitat suitability for burrowing owls. Native prairie coverage was considered the most critical variable in determining the most suitable habitat. The higher the percentage of native prairie, the more suitable it is for burrowing owl habitat.*Note that this study generated landscape level models with coarse variables, and the thresholds and values used may not be directly applicable to other areas or for site-specific analysis.
Thresholds/Learnings:
Synopsis: This report provides information on the habitat suitability requirements of the burrowing owl. Due to limited available data, the model that this report is based upon can only be used as a general habitat model. The habitat variables chosen for this model were native prairie coverage, soil texture, shrub/tree coverage, and distance from linear disturbances (roads):
· Native Prairie Coverage: Because burrowing owls require short grass habitat for nesting and subsequent reproduction, native prairie coverage was considered the most critical variable in determining the most suitable habitat. The higher the percentage of native prairie, the more suitable it is for burrowing owl habitat.
· Soil texture: Soil texture affects burrow stability and therefore can be used to predict and assess possible nest and satellite burrows (burrows that are used other than their nest burrows.) in a given area. Medium and Moderately Coarse soils are given maximum value, Fine and Coarse soils are given lowest value.
· Shrub/Tree Coverage: The amount of shrub/tree cover affects burrowing owls by limiting their line of sight, making them more susceptible to predators. Increased shrub/tree coverage can also provide perch sites for raptors that utilize burrowing owls as prey. For these reasons, the HSI value has maximum value at 0% coverage, and reaches 0 at a threshold of 25% coverage.
· Distance from linear disturbances: Burrowing owls will use right of ways to forage, making them susceptible to road mortality. For the purposes of this model, habitat suitability increases as the distance from linear disturbances (roadways) increases, given that owl/vehicle interactions would be less likely. HSI reached maximum values at over 800m from roads.
Added to ScienceBase on Thu Feb 20 15:25:46 UTC 2014 by processing file <b>LandscapePattern_Database_5_9_AMENDED_MattsBibEdits_v2.xlsx</b>; Amended by Sean Finn, 12-19-14
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In MULTISAR: The Milk River Basin Habitat Suitability Models for Selected Wildlife Management Species. Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 86, by Brad A. Downey, Brandy L. Downey, Rachael W. Quinlain, Oriano Castelli, Vernon J. Remesz and Paul F. Jones, 36-41. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Sustainable Resource Management, Fish and Wildlife Division., 2004
