Another group of captive-raised burrowing owls was released on an Upper Nicola Band (UNB) reserve on April 27, but the excitement didn’t end there.

While in the process of releasing the nine birds Dawn Brodie, a member of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C., spotted two wild-born burrowing owls that had returned to the Nicola Valley for the first time.

According to Brodie, the parents of these owls were released through the burrowing owl species-at-risk reintroduction program — a collaboration between the band and the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C. — last year.

The species-at-risk reintroduction program aims to repopulate the burrowing owl species. Dara Hill/Herald.

 

Students from N’kwala School were eager to help release the owls into their burrows. Dara Hill/Herald.

Brodie explained this weekend marked year three of the reintroduction program, and she couldn’t be happier to see a pair return.

“The first year we had a wild bird come to the site that nested, and last year we had one show up and then leave right away. And then this year a pair,” she explained. Two are back — do you know what the odds [of that] are for burrowing owls? You have to put out a hundred to get a few back.”

She stressed the return of this pair is a significant milestone for the program.

This year’s release was very successful in many ways. It has confirmed that the UNB site can support owls, reproduce, migrate and return and do what Burrowing Owls are supposed to do,” she said.

Finding a prime ecosystem for these birds is no easy feat in today’s world, local biologist Chris Gill explained, noting the challenges posed by habitat loss, pesticide use and decline of species such as badgers.

“Habitat loss is the biggest threat to biodiversity on our planet,” he said. “The grasslands around are very limited. The Upper Nicola Band site is so important because, as you can see, it’s intact grasslands everywhere you look — and that’s rare,” he said.

Gill explained burrowing owls use abandoned badger burrows for shelter, so the species-at-risk reintroduction program replicates these burrows manually.

“Habitat loss has affected badgers. They’re endangered in Canada so there’s less burrows in the landscape because there’s no more grasslands, and because of that the burrowing owls have fewer places to actually nest,” he said. “So that’s why reintroduction programs are so important. Sometimes there is good habitat, like you see here, but there are no badgers so installing the artificial burrows can provide an option.”

UNB’s field technician Loretta Holmes told the Herald they currently have 26 burrows on the reserve, and are adding six more this year.

Installing artificial burrows and reintroducing the owls can help, Gill said, but it’s no guarantee the birds will return — Friday’s event was a pleasant surprise.

“To see them back — it gives you goosebumps.”

 

Dara Hill/Herald.

Brodie said the reintroduction site has the possibility to remain the way it is for generations thanks in part to First Nations land stewardship.

“They’ve embraced the owl program whole-heartedly,” she said.

Peter Hilton, senior executive with the Upper Nicola Band, echoed Brodie’s appreciation.

“You think about First Nations culture — we’re here to protect the land for seven generations. And these are endangered species that are having a tough time because of modern technology, cars, people, industry and population growth,” he said. “If we don’t do this, burrowing owls might die out, the toads might die out, the Lewis’s woodpeckers might die out — at least from this area. We feel it’s our responsibility to do what we can to keep these species alive.”

Other land owners may be less dedicated to wildlife conservation, according to Gill, and it’s a team effort behind the scenes to make the program possible.

“That’s why this program is so critical and having the band on board,” he said. “People like Loretta [Holmes] being so into it — it’s really key to making this work.”

From left to right, Dawn Brodie, Loretta Holmes, Chief Harvey McLeod. Dara Hill/Herald.

Dara Hill/Herald.

According to Brodie, the future of these owls remains uncertain, and captive breeding may be these birds’ last chance at survival.

“They have a future, even though they’ll be a managed species. Captive breeding is a last-ditch effort because it means the species is almost gone,” she said. The Band is committed to supporting the owls with funding and human resources.”

Brodie noted since spotting the return pair on Friday they have begun nesting and she anticipates a successful nesting season to come.

Hilton told the Herald he’s hopeful one day the owls won’t need any help from humans.

“If they can come back without us having to introduce new ones, then we’ve got success.”