San Diego Management & Monitoring ProgramSan Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (ICR), in partnership with multiple agencies, has developed an adaptive conservation management program to assist in the recovery of Western Burrowing Owls (BUOW; Athene cunicularia hypugaea) and their grassland ecosystem in San Diego County. Main objectives include (1) establishing more natural grassland ecosystems in San Diego County by re-establishing ground squirrels that provide critical resources for BUOW and valuable ecosystem engineering effects; (2) better understanding of the factors regulating BUOW population dynamics; (3) developing a comprehensive strategic management plan for BUOW in San Diego County; and (4) implementing the strategic management plan to begin establishing additional breeding nodes of burrowing owls. In 2017 ICR partnered with SDMMP to make publicly available a BUOW Conservation and Management Plan for San Diego County. This is a living document developed with input from local, state, and federal wildlife agencies, and will continue to be updated in the future.
County: Baja California, San Diego
General: South-central, South-west
MU: 3
Project type: Monitoring
Target species: Western burrowing owl
Target vegetation: grassland
Investigator: Lisa A. Nordstrom; Ronald R. Swaisgood
Main implementing entity: San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research
Point of contact: Lisa A. Nordstrom
SDMMP lead: Yvonne Moore
Study lead: Lisa A. Nordstrom
Budget year: FY15-16; Work plan objectives number: 1.2