Burrowing Owls at Zanjero Park

After posting details of my first burrowing owl encounter a couple weeks ago, I was lucky to meet a larger group this week.  But this time it was in the extreme opposite corner of the greater Phoenix area, in Zanjero Park in the community of Gilbert, where I had heard some owls were living.  Since the city has only shed its agricultural roots in the last twenty years or so, it made sense that this field-loving bird might still have habitat there.  So I took advantage of cooler-than-average May temperatures and made the 30-mile ride to see for myself.

While I was surprised the park abutted a major freeway, seeing there were still some adjacent green fields made me cautiously optimistic.  Then I saw that the park service had installed a very long row of 50 plastic containers and pipes on an embankment between a pathway and the fields.  It might have been a football field in length, and they were clearly meant as shelters.   It there was any doubt, nearby signs warned to not disturb burrowing owls.  However after passing maybe two thirds of the shelters, I didn't see one owl.  I did hear the distinct calls of the red-winged blackbirds in the fields - something that accompanied my last lucky find in Goodyear.   And I could see swallows swooping for insects.

I walked a bit further, noticing that another photographer up ahead had stopped and was taking a picture.   She had found one of these unique day-hunting owls!   Every two burrows had a post with two marked numbers that apparently corresponded to the nests below.  It also acted as a perch for the bird to scan the terrain for prey.  Sure enough, the first subject - on #45 -  was facing the field and eyeing the commotion of blackbirds.  Of course as I approached, in inimitable owl-fashion, he turned his head 180 degrees to check me out.  I was in birding heaven.

I quickly tested the limits of how close I could approach before he flew away.  When he was on the post, I could only get to about 20 feet.  But when I approached him after he landed in the stony dirt in front of the burrows, I found that he was a bit less wary of me.   He was mostly interested in eating what he was picking from a thin layer of straw covering the ground.  It wasn't long before I noticed some large red ants scurrying about, especially because I finally stopped crouching for these low shots and sat down.   Fortunately, they didn't attack my derriere or my exposed ankles.  In fact they weren't the bird's morning meal either.  It turns out they were consumed with the same thing the owl was eating - grubs.

I was so close at this point - maybe 15 feet - that I could see the owl devouring individual morsels.  He got into the habit of running back to one of the shelters to drop a worm.  This species has longer legs than others in his order of avians because a lot of his hunting is on the ground as I was witnessing.   After he repeated this a couple of times, a resident of the burrow came out to retrieve her meal.  And at least once, I saw him pass her a grub beak-to-beak.

I suspect the pair are nesting in their cozy tube.  I have no idea if there are eggs or owlets nurtured within.  But I saw up to three pairs of the owls in the area, and was able to photograph two of the couples.  And there is clearly plenty of space on the block for growing families.

Burrowing owl on his perch and house number.  He's facing the field with his body, and me with his turned head.

My sudden movement and close approach caused the owl to take off.

Another flight shot.

Owl in flight with a duplex of burrows.

The owl in front of his park-provided shelter.  It looks like a tube inside a tube or container with some insulation.  I'm sure it approximates the ideal environment for nesting.

His long legs enable efficient hunting from the ground.

He sees something in the straw covered gravel.

A shot of him pursuing some prey.

His wide eyes make me think he's ready to pounce.

The owl eating some kind of grub.  I'm not sure if they're naturally occurring or if the park service or a volunteer provides them along with the straw and shelters.

Another shot with another mouthful. 

Close-up of the grub and the much more common ants - possibly southern fire ants - that I originally thought he was eating. 

Shot of a pair outside their burrow.  It wasn't uncommon for one (who I call 'he') to leave a grub for the other (who I call 'she').  She'd then exit the den to eat it.  Of course, I'm putting my own spin on their sexes. 

A pair fully aware of me.

She quickly came out to enjoy her grub.

The happy couple sharing a meal.  Thanks to the city of Gilbert and local volunteers for their commitment to the well-being of these desert denizens.