The burrowing owl is a small, long-legged owl found throughout Florida. They get their name because they nest and roost in burrows in the ground. Burrowing owls were once common throughout Florida but have experienced significant population declines in recent decades. Though they can still be found statewide, some areas of Florida host larger populations of burrowing owls than others.
Why do burrowing owls live in Florida?
There are several reasons why burrowing owls thrive in Florida:
- The sandy, well-drained soils found across much of the state allow the owls to easily dig burrows.
- The mild winters and warm weather year-round provide a hospitable climate.
- Open, treeless landscapes such as prairies and agricultural fields provide ideal hunting and nesting habitat.
- Abundant rodent and insect populations give the owls plenty of food.
Florida represents the southeastern extreme of the burrowing owl’s breeding range. Though they live year-round in Florida, burrowing owls that nest farther north in the Great Plains and western states migrate south to overwinter in Florida and neighboring states.
Where are the largest populations of burrowing owls in Florida?
Though burrowing owls can be found across Florida, several regions of the state support especially large populations:
- Southwest Florida – The dry prairies and ranch lands of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry Counties harbor Florida’s highest density of breeding burrowing owls.
- Central Florida Ridge – The open grasslands along the Lake Wales Ridge in Polk and Highlands Counties represent another burrowing owl hotspot.
- Florida Panhandle – The western Panhandle, including Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties, hosts significant numbers of wintering burrowing owls.
- Everglades region – Medium densities of burrowing owls are found in the drier prairie regions of the Everglades ecosystem.
Though statewide surveys are infrequent, annual winter surveys and targeted research projects provide insights into regional burrowing owl populations in Florida:
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida likely hosts over 1,000 pairs of breeding burrowing owls based on surveys and habitat availability. Densities are especially high in the large cattle ranches and natural grasslands of inland Collier County, where burrowing owl populations have been extensively studied:
- In 2006, researchers estimated 285 pairs in a 260 km2 study area, or 1 pair per 0.9 km2.
- Surveys from 2010-2013 found 168-247 pairs in the same study area.
Though Southwest Florida hosts the state’s highest density of breeding owls, habitat loss to development remains an ongoing threat.
Central Florida Ridge
Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge hosts one of the state’s most significant breeding populations. Surveys have found high burrowing owl densities in Polk and Highlands Counties:
- 52 pairs were documented along a 16 km roadside survey route in Polk County in 2017.
- Winter surveys from 2006-2011 resulted in estimates of approximately 150 owls along survey routes in the two counties.
As in Southwest Florida, breeding owls are concentrated in the large intact grasslands that still exist amid citrus groves and residential development.
Florida Panhandle
Northern Florida does not host large breeding populations, but thousands of migratory burrowing owls overwinter in the Panhandle region. Annual winter surveys along standard routes reveal trends in abundance:
Year | Number of burrowing owls counted |
---|---|
2007 | 512 |
2008 | 468 |
2009 | 355 |
2010 | 643 |
Surveys indicate burrowing owl winter numbers fluctuate substantially between years, likely reflecting environmental conditions on their breeding grounds farther north.
Why are some burrowing owls declining in Florida?
Though burrowing owls are still relatively widespread in Florida, both breeding and wintering populations have declined since the 1960s and 1970s. Several major factors have contributed to these declines:
- Habitat loss – Development, conversion to intensive agriculture, and fire suppression have eliminated much of Florida’s native grasslands.
- Vehicle strikes – Owls nesting and roosting near roads are vulnerable to being hit by cars.
- Pesticides – Chemicals can accumulate in owls and reduce reproduction.
- Climate change – Rising seas may increasingly inundate coastal nesting areas in South Florida.
Targeted conservation programs that protect and restore grassland habitats and install roadside reflectors to reduce vehicle strikes may help stabilize Florida’s remaining burrowing owl populations.
Conclusion
Burrowing owls reach their highest breeding densities in Florida in the expansive grasslands of the southern half of the state, especially in the Southwest and along the Lake Wales Ridge. Thousands more migrate from farther north to overwinter in the Panhandle region. However, habitat loss and other threats have caused both breeding and wintering populations to decline from historical numbers. Ongoing conservation efforts aimed at protecting and restoring grassland habitats will be key to ensuring burrowing owls remain a part of Florida’s unique wildlife.