The 20th Burrowing Owl Festival and Wildlife Exposition is going to be held Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rotary Park Environmental Center, 5505 Rose Garden Rd., Cape Coral. For Sale: 3919 NW 40th St, CAPE CORAL, FL 33993 $45,000 MLS# 223023894 Welcome to NW Cape Coral this property features no trees, no burrowing owls, no gopher tortoise or bald eagles. Some are right in people's front yards. Its also worth pointing out there is a fee to get in to the park depending on the day you visit, so bare that in mind. If you're heading west on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Heres the link to the article in the Cape Coral Breeze:Right to Clean Water. Rotary Park Wildlife Info: 239-549-4606. Much like Marco Island to the south, the Cape abounds with the empty, sandy residential lots the owls love. Will see one for first time tomorrow, an educational ambassador BUOW at VINS Owl Festival in Vermont. Hope they have lots of hissy owlets edit: also thrilled to hear these guys survived Ian!! Possessing or selling these owls is a serious offense so dont touch them. For birders, the hot sun during mid-day is also the least desirable time to see the owls. COPYRIGHT Cape Coral Wildlife Trust. My recent trip to Cape Coral in early February filled the camera with many photos. The above photo shows an adult owl just outside the burrow, which can extend 10 feet underground. @2023 All Right Reserved. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Learn how to attract owls to nest in your backyard. FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, 1. The story is set in Coconut Cove, a fictional town based on Cape Coral. SEE 1ST ST N E 1 0 H P L S E R T H P L N E 9 T H A V S E 5 T H H A V E S E 1 S T A V E N E 7 H A V E N 6 H P L Just drive slowly around the streets in that neighborhood, and, you should see birds. Marking its 14th year, Cape Coral's Annual Burrowing Owl Festival will take place Saturday. 0000007290 00000 n You can find my work on Instagram, my website, Facebook Page, Pinterest and LinkedIn. 0000004675 00000 n If you find or encounter any of the following situations: Molesting, harassing, or killing owls and/or damaging, filling, or destroying owl burrows is a crime. 38 0 obj <> endobj 0000282486 00000 n In the spring, I was in the car with a co-worker when I saw a pair sitting on a soccer field fence. event : evt, Forget the treetopsburrowing owls spend most of their lives close to the ground, hunting and managing the nest in their underground dens. construction from encroaching upon a burrow. "Owls live very well among people. Its the coolest thing to have an animal like that by you. 0000338462 00000 n D3, 200-400 VR, 1.4x, 550mm, 1/320, f7.1, ISO 1100, D3, 200-400 VR, 400mm, 1/250, f7.1, ISO 640. Right now we have about 600 burrows on developmental property. 0000007159 00000 n For bird photography, I use Nikons D500 cropped sensor camera. but avoid completely encircling burrows with silt fencing whenever possible. Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife | Dedicated to Protection, Preservation and Education. Burrowing owls really dig Marco Island. Cape Coral is one of the countrys fastest-growing metropolitan areas, and all that home and business construction has left fewer and fewer vacant lots for the owls' burrows. "All it takes is a couple of hand tools. In November 2016, the owls landed on Florida'sthreatened species list after years of being labeled as a species of special concern. The upgraded designation offers more protections for the birds, which are considered to be at risk for becoming endangered in the future. Cape Coral has upwards of 2500 burrows within the City limits, but not all of them are actively being used by owls. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-104862030', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cape Coral Parkway, turn left onto Chiquita. 0000008279 00000 n A two-day census in 2017 counted more than 2,800. Too bad their nesting sites get bulldozed." 18. The Florida burrowing owl, a state-Threatened species, inhabits open areas such as dry prairies, pastures, agricultural fields, golf courses, airports, and vacant lots in some urban areas. They are so habituated to humansmore than 16,000 full-time residents, swelling to 40,000 in winterthat such close . Contacts for other regional offices are available on theFWCswebsite. by Zach Barrett. . Lori Vanover is the senior digital editor for Birds & Blooms. For information on how to help, how to start a burrow, how to buy merchandise, and more, go to, Hurricane Ian wipes out famous North Fort Myers bald eagle nest, birds rebuilding, Did sharks leave Southwest Florida waters as they did during Hurricane Charley, Sanibel's 'CROW is not going anywhere' despite Hurricane Ian damage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They stand 8 to 11 inches tall on a pair of spindly legs and have a wingspan of about 20-24 inches. Cape Coral Art prints and metals are available in my Etsy Studio. Where to stay with kids in Southwest Florida? Cape Coral's new burrowing owl mascots, Owliver and Owlivia, debuted Feb. 2 at the Rotary Community Garden next to Cape Coral City Hall. As you may have seen in the video, many of them are found around the housing estates, which means you basically have to drive around the many residential areas to spot them. Breeding and nesting season takes place Feb. 15 through July 10, although some owls breed earlier or later. Street, right off of Chiquita. For the burrowing owl, you dont want to get too close as they need their space. The burrowing owl is the official bird of Cape Coral. G I S . The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife present "Living with Owls in Cape Coral" , an entertaining photographic presentation all about the official city bird, the burrowing owl. It doesn't think the current state laws are strong enough. CC Breeze: Much done, much more to doCarl - guest opinion April 2019, http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/670550/Guest-opinion--Much-done--much-more-to-do-to-protect-endangered-species.html?nav=5008, 4. In 30 minutes, you can make a starter burrow. 0000005906 00000 n Gary A Roberts June 23, 2019 at 9:06 am I see these black eye burrowing owls ever day in Plantation Florida at Central Park. <]>> However, there appeared to be more babies than adults or juveniles. This doesnt come without a price. 0000005467 00000 n Welcome to Broward County, FL! There were multiple burrows located on the streets surrounding the library, all of them very active. The next census will take place in June 2023. Thoroughly suburbanized, hundreds of pairs occupy burrows dug in empty lots, front yards, strip-mall parking lots, and highway medians across this 24-square-mile island. NBC-2 - Cape Coral could get a parkgopher tortoises April 2019, https://www.nbc-2.com/story/40318431/cape-coral-could-get-an-environmental-park-to-protect-gopher-tortoises, 5. Yes, theres a town shares their love of the burrowing owl. %%EOF At a 2006 sneak preview of the movie, Hiaasen said he got the idea for "Hoot" from an owl habitat that was destroyed and turned into a parking lot when he was a kid. The Osprey is equally awe-inspiring with its iconic talons extended dive at over 50 mph (80-kph) for their prey. Skip to first item. Many burrows were damaged by floodwater or covered by debrisfromthe storm. Please report the violations to FWCs 24 hour hotline at 1-888-404-3922. } In fact, the burrowing owl hasbecome somewhat of a spokesman for Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW). Burrowing Owl, the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year! Tours, festivals, fan clubs and more celebrate the population estimated to be between 1,000-1,500 the largest population of burrowing owls in Florida. 0000095255 00000 n 0000006216 00000 n 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard, Office of Economic & Business Development, Florida Burrowing Owl: Frequently Asked Questions, Burrowing Owl Protection, City Ordinance 20-19, Florida Burrowing Owl Incidental Take Permit Information, Burrowing Owl Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines, City of Cape CoralsBurrowing Owl Building Permit Procedures, Office of Business and Economic Development, Report new Burrowing Owl nest locations to. The community of the city really do a lot to look after the owls nesting there, with various tips and advice on the protection and well being of the owls to be found on the Cape Coral website. They weigh just 6 to 7.5 ounces less than a can of soda. Discover the amazing types of owls in North America. 0000002749 00000 n And theyll stay in the same nest if the conditions remain unchanged. A A. CAPE CORAL, Fla. - A Cape Coral woman is heartbroken after finding a beloved burrowing owl lying on its face near its burrow in her front . For approximately 20 years, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has been a passionate, active group dedicated to the preservation of all kinds of wildlife. "We are trying to figure out what to do. They dont, of course. 0000431715 00000 n The folks at the website Trips to Discover crunched some data in March and revealed Cape Coral is No. Cape Coral Wildlife Trust (CCWT) was formed to acquire land for education, research, and the preservation of Cape Corals indigenous wildlife. 0000003567 00000 n This threatened owl faces significant loss of habitat and predators. Today, only one burrow is still active and it is thought that there was just too much human activity for the owls, and they moved on. I was able to maintain a safe distance for the owls while capturing desired composition. Select an open lawn area located between the drainage swale and the front of your house (the best location) or in your backyard. They are here year round, but often hide in the summer to avoid the hot summer sun. For obvious reasons, they prefer land that drains well. While some of the Western Burrowing Owls migrate, the Burrowing Owls here in Cape Coral do not migrate. Injured Wildlife: CROW 239-472-3644. D3, 200-400, 1.4x, 550mm, 1/800, f8, ISO 360. For years, the burrowing owl was Cape Corals unofficial city bird. Most we saw in one day was 27, that was during nesting season. Donaldson said to trap the owls down in their homes for the days or weeks it takes for the piles of trash created by Hurricane Ian could be deadly. If you suspect an owl burrow to be in danger or tampered with, call FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at 239-980-2593. Early wake up calls, late nights, chasing the light. America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine! Burrowing owls, as they're called, are quite common in Cape Coral, said Gilbert, who now lives in Ocala. Florida needs a Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment! (function() { callback: cb } The unique thing about the owls is that unlike other owls, they are out during the day. How about leaving a property to CCWT in your will? They live in grasslands, deserts, and other open habitats, where they hunt mainly insects . "Now theburrowing owland Cape Coral will be synonymous.". Again as you can see in the video, some of the nests are right up alongside the pathways and road that wind throughout the park which has all helped to make the owls grow used to the daily visitors. Share this page on your favorite Social network. We dont want them leaving their nests or wasting precious energy due to photographers and viewers scaring them away. The gopher tortoise is considered a \"keystone species.\" Conservation Biologist Rachel King of Florida Fish & Wildlife further explained \"If they disappear from the environment, the ecosystem will collapse on itself.\". So fluffy! The best places to see burrowing owls in South Florida include Cape Coral on the Gulf Coast and the western Broward communities of Davie, Pembroke Pines, Tamarac, Coral Springs and Cooper City. I was expecting them to be sparsely dotted around and hard to see but to my delight there were a good number of nests and almost every single one of them had at least one owl standing by the entrancefurther more, on both the days I visited, the owls were showing well the entire time I was there. forms: { However, many owls dont reach old age. Sign the petition by clickingI will sign! Traveling to Florida offers diverse birding and nature photography. You'll likely see at least a few of the 1,000-plus nesting pairs during your visit. This property is currently available for sale and was listed by NABOR FL on Apr 14, 2023. 0000279965 00000 n and last updated 4:19 PM, Feb 24, 2022. Its hard to believe that a bird so widespread in the West is also found in southern Florida, but thats the case. No wetland area, no wildlife conservation area or anything like that which you find in many other parks around the state. Athene, Cape Coral's newest burrowing owl mascot, was on hand to pose for pictures with kids and adults alike, while everyone got a look at why the burrowing owl is so . Take a right but headed which way? A central location with easy access to Ding Darling, Captiva, Cape Coral, Corkscrew and Naples, Florida. Aperture and Light shares travels, experiences and photography tips to add a little something extra to your journey. Ed & Pascha Donaldson, Council Member Jennifer Nelson, FWC Officer Kyle Rogers. The event is organized by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, a volunteer group dedicated to preserving and enhancing the habitats of protected wildlife species including burrowing owls and educating people about the citys wildlife. We lived in the Cape a few years ago. We stayed near Fort Meyers using VRBO. On the morning we drove round however, there were very few owls on show with most of them seeming to want to keep out of view or as hidden as possible with just a pair of eyes looking out at you. The good news though, is that there are quite a few of them so it wont take you long to find another that is a little more within reach of your camera. Where to stay? REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY STATE. For starters, Cape Coral is home to Floridas largest populations of these small owls. In fact, the burrowing owl has become somewhat of a spokesman for Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW). This park is purely for the entertainment of the Broward County residents so it really did come as a surprise when I was told to look there for the owls. They went up against a tree or huddled against a home or against a homes eaves. 0000002876 00000 n So I decided to spend some time photographing them at a couple of locations in the sunshine stateas well as recording my first On Location video to give you an idea of the conditions I experienced, and to give you some idea of what to expect if you decide to go out photographing these little guys for yourself. The distinctive birds arent like most owls, though. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATIONAND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR GOING TO THE WEBSITE FOR THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES (www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com). I would have liked to spend more time there to really make the most of it though as my friend, fellow photographer Colin Pickett, spent a few days there and had more success. Rotary Park will be the host of the 20th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival, with family friendly . 3,093,795 Views. Last week, activists and residents demonstrated against a new development called Sands Park on Pine Island, off the coast of Cape Coral, which they claim will threaten the . Make sure you check for burrows before dumping debris.". Youll notice I only talk about Cape Coral briefly and that is simply because I spent a couple of hours one morning trying to find the owls there. For Sale. Loss of their homes is one of the biggest threats to the burrowing owl. If you'd like to know about Richard's latest blogs, workshops and more, all designed to help you improve your photography, join the newsletter today. An old western nickname for the burrowing owl is howdy owl, because it appears to nod its head as a way of saying hello. I also participate in the Amazon Services LLC Influencer/Associates Program: Sheen Watkins' Amazon Storefront. Its really nice to see just how much effort the city puts in to the conservation of the owls, but given how many of the entire states population live there it really is no surprise. Thanks. They can easily be observed sitting in front of the burrow or on the perches any time during the day. Burrowing owls mostly chow down on crickets, grasshoppers, moths, beetles and other insects. Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a non-profit volunteer organization registered in the state of Florida under # CH36450. She has a bachelor's degree in agricultural and environmental communications from the University of Illinois. So, yes you can see baby owls near the burrows throughout the year. For information on how to help, how to start a burrow, how to buy merchandise, and more, go toccfriendsofwildlife.org. ), Discover the Amazing Types of Owls in North America, ID Challenge: Coopers Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. . } I think because the park gets so busy and noisy at times, the owls have grown to understand that they generally are not in danger from the people that use the area, and so you can get close enough for some really nice images with the owls being far less timid than the at Cape Coral. Holiday Inn Express Cape Coral-Fort Myers Area, an IHG Hotel 328 Reviews View Hotel Cape Coral, Southwest Gulf Coast Hideaway Waterfront Resort & Hotel 301 Reviews View Hotel Cape Coral, Southwest Gulf Coast Tiki Hut Bar & Grill at Dolphin Key Resort 475 Reviews View Hotel Cape Coral, Southwest Gulf Coast View all hotels site map. These small owls dont eat the animals whose burrows they move into; instead, they share watchdog duties. 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