Camp Umatilla provides a unique environment for burrowing owls

Photo By Aaron Perkins | Photo courtesy of David H. “DJ” Johnson.  

UMATILLA CHEMICAL DEPOT, OR, UNITED STATES

06.03.2020

Story by Paul Rushing 

Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office

UMATILLA, Ore. - In 2008 Don Gillis, the Natural Resource Manager at the Umatilla Chemical Depot noticed a decline in the nesting areas for the Burrowing Owls on Camp Umatilla. The decline was a result of a lack of badgers making tunnels in the ground that the owls depended on for their spring nesting areas. Gillis knew that there could be a backlash if the owls continued to decline. Serendipitously that year, he bumped into Mike Greg who works with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and asked him if he knew of anyone that could help him with the issue. Greg told him of a man in Virginia that was the leading expert in owl conservation. That man was David H. “DJ” Johnson, Director of the Global Owl Project.

"There were only six pairs of burrowing owls left on the depot." said Johnson.

Together Johnson and Gillis devised a plan to install artificial nesting tunnels to replace the ones made by the badgers. "One male owl waited on a perch watching them install one of the nesting tunnels, Gillis explained, recalling the early work on the tunnels. “As soon as they finished and were walking away the owl flew down and took ownership of the nest."

In total, they have installed 96 nesting tunnels, and all but one has been occupied over the 12 years they have been tracking the owls. Every spring since 2008, Johnson and a team of faithful volunteers have made Camp Umatilla their home. Johnson and his team, skillfully and gently trap each owl and band their legs. The team members weigh and measure each owl, and count the eggs and the condition of the nest.

Next, they record the calling sounds the males make to other male owls, which is specific to the species. As a male owl matures their voice changes. The purpose of the recording is that the team analyzes weaker male owl calls, which are used to lure other males (who will go and investigate the sound) into their burrows. To help the team trap them, a small Mp3 player is placed inside to simulate the actual owl in the nest.

The team stays working at the site until the eggs hatch, and at six weeks the chicks are then ready to be banded. In addition to the bands, the team puts tiny satellite transmitters on the owls to determine their migrating habits. The males usually go north into Washington State in the fall, while the females usually vacation in the south, some as far as Mexico. As of June 2020, there are now 36 pairs of Burrowing Owls using Camp Umatilla as their nesting location.

"Training on the camp will in no way harm the owls and their nesting, and the owls will in no way affect the training." said Johnson.

In the 12 years of conservation efforts, this has become a victory for the owls and the military mission on Camp Umatilla, Oregon. The unique partnership has brought about a new understanding of how military training sites can balance the needs of the natural environment while still conducting operational training and missions.

• Date Taken: 06.03.2020
• Date Posted: 06.03.2020 18:12
• Story ID: 371400
• Location: UMATILLA CHEMICAL DEPOT, OR, US