19 Mar Are These Tiny Owls Babies? The Surprising Truth…
One of the most common questions we get at Avian Behavior Conservancy is whether our small owls—Tina, the burrowing owl, and Nigel, the screech owl—are babies. It’s an understandable assumption; after all, they’re small, fluffy-looking, and have that wide-eyed, inquisitive expression that makes them seem like youngsters.
But in reality, they’re fully grown adults! Owls, like many bird species, grow incredibly fast—reaching full size in just a matter of weeks. This rapid development is critical for survival. The longer a bird stays in the nest, the more vulnerable it is to predators, so nature equips them to grow quickly, fledge, and become independent as soon as possible.
The Mammalian Lens: Why We Misinterpret Bird Growth
As humans, we tend to interpret the natural world through a mammalian lens—meaning we often compare animals to the way we ourselves, or our pets, develop. In mammals, infancy and childhood stretch over months or years. This allows for parental care, social learning, and gradual development.
Birds, however, operate on an entirely different timeline. Most bird species must hatch, grow, and learn survival skills at an accelerated pace. A burrowing owl chick that hatches in the spring needs to be ready to fly, hunt, and evade predators before the summer ends. Nature doesn’t give them years to figure it out—it gives them weeks.
This is why birds can seem almost alien in their speed of development and independence. The more we understand these fundamental differences, the better we can appreciate how birds fit into the delicate balance of an ecosystem.
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture of Ecological Literacy
When we misunderstand how birds grow and function, we risk missing the larger ecological picture. Ecological literacy—or understanding how species interact with their environment—gives us critical insight into the health of ecosystems, including those in urban areas and agricultural spaces.
For example, burrowing owls are an indicator species—meaning their presence (or absence) tells us a lot about the health of a habitat. A thriving burrowing owl population signals a balanced ecosystem with healthy insect and rodent populations, intact grasslands, and minimal human disruption. Their decline, on the other hand, often warns us of habitat destruction, pesticide overuse, or declining biodiversity.
Additionally, birds like owls play an irreplaceable role in natural pest control, consuming billions of pounds of insects and rodents each year. There is no artificial system that can fully replace the work they do in keeping populations in check.
The Urgent Case of San Diego’s Burrowing Owls
Here in San Diego, we’ve seen firsthand how habitat loss and urban expansion have pushed burrowing owls to the brink. Once a common sight in our open grasslands, these owls now survive in just a few small pocket. One of the biggest issues? The loss of ground squirrels, whose burrows the owls depend on for nesting. Without them, these tiny but fierce predators have nowhere to go.
This is exactly why Tina, our burrowing owl, is so important. She helps us shine a light on this issue, giving people a chance to see up close what we stand to lose. In October 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission recognized the urgency of the situation, granting western burrowing owls temporary protection under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) while their status is reviewed. But awareness is key. The more people understand their role in our ecosystem, the better chance we have of protecting these incredible birds before it’s too late.
Connecting People to Conservation
The more we recognize these ecological needs—and communicate them in ways people can easily digest—the better off our ecosystems (and ultimately, our own well-being) will be. Owls aren’t just fascinating animals; they are living indicators of how well we’re doing in maintaining a healthy planet.
So the next time you see a tiny owl and think, “Oh, what a cute baby!”—remember that you’re looking at a full-grown, highly specialized predator that plays an essential role in its environment. And if we want to continue to see them thriving in the wild, we need to ensure their habitats remain intact and their ecosystems stay balanced.
Want to meet Tina and Nigel in person? Join us for one of our interactive bird experiences at Avian Behavior and see these incredible birds up close! Book Your Experience Here!