BURROWING OWLS

Burrowing owls spend much of their lives underground in burrows that provide shelter from predators, protection from Florida's weather, and a safe place to raise their young.

In Cape Coral, these burrows are commonly found in open grassy areas, vacant lots, parks, and protected conservation lands. While only a small entrance is visible above ground, the tunnel system below may extend 10 feet or more and includes a nesting chamber where eggs are laid and owlets are raised.

For a burrowing owl family, the burrow is much more than a nest. It is home, refuge, and the center of daily life.

Each spring, burrowing owls begin one of nature's most remarkable family stories. After choosing or preparing a burrow, the female lays her eggs in a protected nesting chamber deep below the surface while the male helps defend the area and brings food.

When the owlets hatch, they remain safely underground for several weeks before cautiously appearing at the burrow entrance. As they grow, it's common to see curious young owls peeking above ground, stretching their wings, and watching their parents before taking their first flights.

Unlike many wildlife species, both parents work together to protect, feed, and raise their young, giving the next generation the best chance to survive in an increasingly developed landscape.

Throughout the day, burrowing owls spend much of their time standing near the entrance of their burrow, carefully watching everything happening around them. Their remarkable eyesight allows them to spot insects, predators, and movement from surprising distances.

Although they're capable of flight, burrowing owls often prefer to run across the ground in pursuit of prey. They communicate with one another using soft calls, body posture, and their famous head tilts, especially during breeding season when parents and owlets remain close together.

One of the reasons people love burrowing owls is that they seem genuinely curious. Rather than immediately flying away, they'll often pause to study nearby people, vehicles, or other wildlife before deciding whether there's anything to worry about.

Every visit to an active burrow is different. You might see an adult standing guard, owlets peeking from the entrance, parents returning with food, or a family quietly enjoying the warmth of a sunny Cape Coral afternoon.

Amazing Things You May Not Know

Burrowing owls may be small, but they possess some remarkable abilities that help them survive in Cape Coral's unique environment. Here are a few fascinating facts that make these tiny birds unlike any other owl.

Although they can't rotate their heads all the way around, burrowing owls can turn them about 270 degrees. This incredible flexibility helps them keep watch for predators and prey without moving the rest of their body.

Unlike most owls that rely almost entirely on flight, burrowing owls often chase insects and other small prey by running quickly across the ground using their unusually long legs.

Most owls are active only after dark, but burrowing owls hunt throughout the day as well as at night. Their daytime activity makes them one of the easiest owls in North America to observe in the wild.

A single burrowing owl family can consume hundreds of insects, rodents, and other small prey during nesting season, helping naturally control pest populations throughout the community.

❤️ Many Burrows Become Multi-Year Family Homes 

Some burrowing owls return to the same nesting area year after year, raising generation after generation in familiar surroundings. For many Cape Coral residents, watching a neighborhood owl family return each spring has become a cherished tradition. 

 Tiny Hunter. Big Appetite.

Burrowing owls may be small, but they are remarkably skilled hunters. Using their exceptional eyesight, sharp hearing, and quick reflexes, they search for food throughout the day and into the evening.

Unlike many owls that hunt primarily from the air, burrowing owls often pursue prey on foot. Their long legs allow them to sprint across the ground after insects and other small animals with surprising speed and agility.

Their diet changes with the seasons, but insects make up much of their menu. Grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, spiders, and moths provide an abundant food source. They also hunt small lizards, frogs, mice, and other small prey whenever the opportunity arises.

During nesting season, both parents work tirelessly to keep their hungry owlets well fed, making countless hunting trips each day until the young birds are ready to hunt on their own.

• Grasshoppers 
• Beetles 
• Crickets 
• Spiders 
• Moths 
• Small lizards 
• Frogs 
• Mice and other small rodents 
• Small snakes 

Burrowing owls provide valuable natural pest control. A single owl family can consume hundreds of insects and many rodents during nesting season, helping maintain a healthy balance in Cape Coral's natural environment.

Courtship & Nest Preparation

Adult pairs return to or prepare underground burrows, strengthen pair bonds, and get their nesting site ready for the breeding season.

Eggs Are Laid

The female lays 6 to 10 eggs deep inside the burrow while the male helps defend the territory and brings food to the nest.

Owlets Hatch

Tiny owlets hatch underground, where they remain safe while their parents work tirelessly to feed and protect them.

First Peek Outside

As they grow, curious owlets begin appearing at the entrance of the burrow, watching the world before taking their first flights.

Learning to Fly & Hunt

Young burrowing owls gradually learn to fly, chase insects, hunt for food, and survive on their own while still receiving guidance from their parents.

Independent Adults

Juvenile owls become independent, establish their own territories, and eventually begin the cycle again the following spring.

Every successful nesting season depends on protected burrows, healthy habitat, and a community committed to helping burrowing owls thrive. By protecting nesting areas today, we're helping ensure future generations of these remarkable birds continue to call Cape Coral home.

Despite their small size, burrowing owls have personalities that are impossible to ignore. Curious, alert, and surprisingly expressive, they often seem just as interested in watching people as people are in watching them.

Unlike many birds that immediately fly away, burrowing owls will often pause outside their burrow, carefully studying their surroundings before deciding what to do next.

Every owl has its own personality. Some are bold and confident, standing proudly outside their burrow as people pass by. Others are more cautious, quietly observing from a safe distance before venturing out to hunt or explore.

Have you ever felt like a burrowing owl was watching you?

You're probably right.

Their bright yellow eyes constantly scan the world around them, helping them detect predators, locate prey, and keep watch over their family. That curious stare isn't aggression or fear. It's simply one of nature's most observant little birds carefully evaluating everything happening nearby.

For many residents, seeing a familiar burrowing owl has become one of the simple pleasures of living in Cape Coral. Whether standing beside its burrow, perched on a nearby post, or quietly watching the neighborhood, these remarkable birds remind us that people and wildlife can successfully share the same community.