Migratory linkages of Migratory linkages of Burrowing Owls on Burrowing Owls on

Department of Defense Department of Defense installations and adjacent installations and adjacent

lands lands

Courtney J. ConwayCourtney J. ConwayUSGS, University of ArizonaUSGS, University of Arizona

Carol A. FinleyCarol A. FinleyKirtland AFBKirtland AFB

Victoria GarciaVictoria GarciaUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona

Burrowing Owls (Burrowing Owls (Athene cuniculariaAthene cunicularia))

• once a common breeder in grasslands and desertsonce a common breeder in grasslands and deserts

• now have declined or been extirpated from range peripherynow have declined or been extirpated from range periphery

• federal Species of National federal Species of National Conservation ConcernConservation Concern

• endangered in 2 states and endangered in 2 states and CanadaCanada

• but are increasing in other but are increasing in other parts of rangeparts of range

Are Burrowing Owls becoming less migratory?Are Burrowing Owls becoming less migratory?

Are Burrowing Owls redistributing their Are Burrowing Owls redistributing their populations, rather than declining?populations, rather than declining?

• impacts validity of current or future BUOW listing petitions.impacts validity of current or future BUOW listing petitions.

• impact effectiveness of conservation and management efforts. impact effectiveness of conservation and management efforts.

• impacts the military mission because BUOWs are common on DoD impacts the military mission because BUOWs are common on DoD installations in western U.S. installations in western U.S.

• resulting limited distribution will cause BUOW populations to be resulting limited distribution will cause BUOW populations to be vulnerable to environmental stochasticity and disease.vulnerable to environmental stochasticity and disease.

If this hypothesis is correct: If this hypothesis is correct:

1.1. Are BUOWs hatched in north migrating to south Are BUOWs hatched in north migrating to south and remaining there to breed?and remaining there to breed?

2.2. How much connectivity exists among BUOW How much connectivity exists among BUOW populations on DoD installations in West?populations on DoD installations in West?

3.3. Where do BUOWs breeding on and near DoD Where do BUOWs breeding on and near DoD installations spend the winter?installations spend the winter?

Specific questions this project will answer:Specific questions this project will answer:

1.1. Are BUOWs hatched in north migrating to south Are BUOWs hatched in north migrating to south and remaining there to breed?and remaining there to breed?

2.2. How much connectivity exists among BUOW How much connectivity exists among BUOW populations on DoD installations in West?populations on DoD installations in West?

Methods

• Collect blood samples

• relatedness follows a predictable gradient in which populations closer to each other are more closely related than populations farther from each other.

• can use DNA to establish patterns of relatedness within and among populations.

If burrowing owls hatched in northern latitudes are re-locating to southern latitudes, we would expect northern owls to be more closely related to owls in southern latitudes than predicted by the relatedness gradient.

PredictionPrediction

3. Where do BUOWs breeding on and near 3. Where do BUOWs breeding on and near DoD installations spend the winter?DoD installations spend the winter?

Methods

• collect feather samples

• each feather bears a stable isotope signature unique to the location where the feather was grown.

• BUOWs molt some feathers during winter, so these feathers can be used to determine where each owl spent the winter.

• place a radio-transmitter on subset of BUOWs and track during migration

Participating InstallationsParticipating Installations

Activity (as of Oct 2006) nSamples collected 979

Participating sites 29

Personnel trained 8

Radio-marked owls 28

Current Status

Participating FacilitiesParticipating FacilitiesBarry M. Goldwater Air Force RangeBarry M. Goldwater Air Force Range NAF El CentroNAF El Centro

Boardman Bombing RangeBoardman Bombing Range NAS LemooreNAS Lemoore

Buckley AFBBuckley AFB NAS North IslandNAS North Island

Cannon AFBCannon AFB Nellis AFBNellis AFB

Casa Grande National MonumentCasa Grande National Monument Nevada Test SiteNevada Test Site

China Lake Naval Weapons StationChina Lake Naval Weapons Station Pinon Canyon Maneuver SitePinon Canyon Maneuver Site

City of TucsonCity of Tucson Pueblo Chemical DepotPueblo Chemical Depot

Davis-Monthan AFBDavis-Monthan AFB Rocky FlatsRocky Flats

Dixon Navy Radio Transmitter FacilityDixon Navy Radio Transmitter Facility Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWRRocky Mountain Arsenal NWR

Edwards AFBEdwards AFB Salton Sea NWRSalton Sea NWR

Fort Bliss Army BaseFort Bliss Army Base Schriever AFBSchriever AFB

Fort Carson Army BaseFort Carson Army Base Seal Beach Naval Weapons StationSeal Beach Naval Weapons Station

Fort IrwinFort Irwin White Sands Missile RangeWhite Sands Missile Range

Holloman AFBHolloman AFB Yuma Marine Corps Air StationYuma Marine Corps Air Station

Kirtland AFBKirtland AFB Yuma Proving GroundYuma Proving Ground

March JARBMarch JARB

PartnersPartners

Canadian Wildlife ServiceCanadian Wildlife Service

Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies UnitDesert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

National Park ServiceNational Park Service

University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta

University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona

US Department of EnergyUS Department of Energy

US Fish and Wildlife ServiceUS Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS Arizona Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research UnitUSGS Arizona Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit