Tracy Press

A concerned resident asks about protections for the ground-nesting little birds in fields around Tracy.

EDITOR,

I was leaving the Tracy mall area on Corral Hollow Road and driving very slowly, because I saw something in the field. There sitting on a mound of dirt was a burrowing owl. I was not aware that there were any of them out in that field.

You can probably guess my next question, not knowing how many burrowing owls there are over there: Do you think that the carnival that’s set up on that field will disturb the nesting holes? When I went back, I saw a huge ride right on top of the mound that I saw the other day.

I would like to know who I could contact to find out about the protection of those little owls, as they help us so much with rodent problems around town. I am not trying to start anything; I am just curious about the little owls. They are so cute!

— Diane McGill, Tracy

• Editor’s note: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects the burrowing owl, but only from being hunted or sold. 

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written by HOOters , April 19, 2008

What a hoooooooooooooooooooot! But, may have been one that was planted elsewhere by an obstruct and migrated back home???

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written by Steve Reshakis , April 19, 2008

Those owls are the "Flying rats" of the animal world, they are in EVERY field, and they are Not endangered
tracy should pay a reward and let all the Kids with 22 rifles shoot them at will. we should give a prize at the Bean festival for the best owl-Chili.

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written by amy , April 20, 2008

Unfortunately, they are where they do not belong, even though the humans encroached on their habitats. The reason is this, the burrowings causes erosions in the mounds supporting the levees, the rail lines. Any burrowing animals, such as ground squirrels, rats, rabbits and so on weakens the land around the supports. That alone poses problems for the engineers.

Sad, but realistic result of progress.

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written by amy , April 20, 2008

If they are in open field where there are no human habitats for miles and miles around, levees, no cattles (can cause broken legs) and such.... then the owls should remain where they are for now?

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written by Kerosine lamp , April 20, 2008

Yep!

And the price of fuel it too high to take care of this problem!!!

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written by carolyn , April 22, 2008

I think that people should really step back and realize that we have almost completely exterminated many species on this planet by think screw'em well just build over them and move on.that's the reason why we have many pest problems that we do today.And where has compasion for smaller creatures in this world gone.Really when people start caring about this earth and all the creatures on it that we might need for some reason in the future.We might have some hope in fixing what we have srewed up on this planet.And our kids might have a pretty descent place to live.

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written by notnice , April 25, 2008

Carolyn,
The human race has done what no other species has done on this Earth, and that is to bring to extinction many other species and put others on the brink. I'm afraid we'll be next.

S. Reshakis,
Go ahead and have your fun shooting squirrels to the brink extinction. All it will do is put us closer to our end and I don't think you'll find the majority of Tracyites falling in line behind you.