CMP Review 2023-09-13

September 13, 2023

My mom began her own native habitat project around my folks’ home in NE Iowa, reverting an entire corn field back into prairie grasses and flowers.

Yesterday she caught glimpse of a bird popping down into a hole on the field’s edge, which turned out to be a Burrowing Owl. Although our family was born and raised in Iowa, none of us had ever seen one before.

According to the National Audubon Society, these diurnal birds are rare in many places due to habitat loss. They might dig their own burrow or take them over from ground squirrels and tortoises. In Iowa, though, they’ll even use badger holes.

Hopefully, I’ll get to see this cutie when I return home for a visit.

@rbaburina

📷: Rolando Yera