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Multiscale Nest-Site Selection of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) in Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands

Gabriel Ruiz Aymá,Alina Olalla Kerstupp,Mayra A. Gómez Govea,Antonio Guzmán Velasco,J. I. González Rojas

Published 2026 in Biology

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary Burrowing owls depend on underground burrows to reproduce, but these burrows are not consistently available across landscapes. In northern Mexico, Burrowing owls rely almost entirely on burrows created by Mexican prairie dogs, an endemic species currently at risk of extinction due to habitat loss. Understanding how owls choose where to nest is essential for protecting both species and the grasslands they inhabit. We examined how Burrowing owls select nesting sites across spatial scales, from the characteristics of individual burrows to broader landscape features. We found that owls prefer burrows that offer greater internal space and protection, are located near other available burrows, occur in prairie dog colonies with moderate activity, and are found in landscapes with fewer structures that predators can use and farther from croplands. Our results show that nesting decisions are shaped by a combination of local and landscape conditions rather than by a single factor. These findings highlight the importance of conserving functional prairie dog colonies and maintaining low levels of human disturbance in grassland ecosystems. Protecting these conditions will help ensure suitable breeding habitat for Burrowing owls and support the conservation of grassland biodiversity in northern Mexico.

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