Burrowing owls live at Pond C intermittently throughout the year. These small owls nest underground in abandoned ground squirrel burrows, can often be seen sunbathing during the day, and usually hunt at dusk.

Burrowing owls are adapted to live in grassland habitats where they can find their favorite foods (grasshoppers and voles) and where they can see and evade potential predators. Large areas of Pond C were purposely planted with only grasses and flowers to maintain the grassland environment that burrowing owls prefer.

Unfortunately, burrowing owl populations have declined significantly in California due to habitat loss, pesticides (rodenticides), and introduced predators (dogs and cats). Pond C provides an important refuge for local burrowing owls. If you see one here - perhaps standing outside a burrow or perched on a fencepost - please help protect this vulnerable species by observing it from a distance and, if you have a dog, keeping it on-leash while at Pond C. 

Burrowing owls raise their young in abandoned ground squirrel burrows.	Burrowing owls are quite small (7-10 inches) and have rounded heads and long legs.