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C O N T E N T S Swallow-tailed Kite Research Project Underway Become an April 27
Program Catch the
Migration Sensation! Become an
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The Florida Burrowing Owl Project Needs Your Help Did you know that the Burrowing Owl was listed as a "species of special concern" in Florida in 1979? Did you know that since then, a statewide population survey of the Burrowing Owl has never been done? Did you know that in 1987 Florida was estimated to have between 3,000 and 10,000 pairs of Burrowing Owls? If there are only 3,000 pairs of Burrowing Owls in Florida, that would be less than the number of breeding endangered Wood Storks, 5,523 pairs surveyed in 1995, and less than the number of threatened Scrub Jays, 4,000 pairs estimated in 1992. But if there are 10,000 pairs of Burrowing Owls, that would be close to the number of Brown Pelicans, a species of special concern, with 9,950 pairs breeding in Florida in 1995. Like the Wood Stork and Scrub Jay, work needs to be done to learn more about Florida's current Burrowing Owl population. Pam Bowen, a University of Central Florida graduate student, is coordinating The Florida Burrowing Owl Project, a statewide population survey of the owl. The survey will be conducted during the 1999 breeding season. It will begin in the Keys in April and end in the Panhandle in July. If you know of a Burrowing Owl site, please contact Pam with the information about that site. She is also looking for volunteers who want to help with the survey; surveying owls in their own county or monitoring a known owl site close to home. If you have information on sites or want to take part in the statewide population survey, please contact Pam Bowen at: 3068 Whisper Lake Ln # F, |
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