Burrowing owl on a perch

Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are active by day and nest underground rather than in trees, often taking over burrows dug by prairie dogs or ground squirrels. This one perched on a dry stem near its burrow, those long legs — unusually stilt-like for an owl — braced against the wind.

Why it matters

Burrowing owl populations have declined across much of the West as ground squirrel colonies are eliminated near agriculture and development, since the owls depend entirely on burrows they can’t dig themselves — Antelope Island’s protected grassland is exactly the kind of undisturbed habitat the species needs.

Getting the shot

A fast shutter handled the wind moving the perch stem. Shot at the owl’s own eye level from a distance, staying well back from the burrow itself to avoid flushing it off such an exposed perch.