Factors influencing nesting success of Burrowing Owls in southeastern Idaho

摘要: A burrowing owl ( Athene cunicularia ) population nesting on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in southeastern utilized burrows excavated by badgers Taxidea taxus or natural cavities lava flows as sites. The size of was small (N = 13–14 pairs) relation to number available sites, suggesting that factors other than burrow availability limited this population. Rodents and Jerusalem crickets Stenopelmatus fuscus represented primary prey during season. This demonstrated both a numerical (brood size) functional (dietary) response decrease density three species rodents INEL drought 1977.