Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
$50,000  Columbia Plateau Ecoregion  Addresses drought

The Western Burrowing Owl is an Oregon Conservation Strategy species that is cherished by Oregon’s public and has special cultural significance to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). A population of over 100 Burrowing Owls breeds in Oregon’s Columbia Plateau on properties managed by the CTUIR and the Oregon Military Department. Artificial burrows established there by the Global Owl Project have allowed intensive study of burrowing owl demography and capture methods for over a decade. Yet little is known about where Burrowing Owls overwinter or the migratory paths they follow. We propose to deploy satellite telemetry tags to identify the habitats used by the owls outside of the breeding period. Because wintering habitats are likely an important influence on owl survival and reproduction, such information is critical to developing effective conservation strategies.