burrowing owls & desert trash series

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13 x 28" - 3D metallic desert trash with small acrylic painting

When Becca found out that a group of burrowing owls is called a parliament, she couldn't help but create a group of serious, political grade burrowing owls to deliberate on an issue with their human influenced burrow.

Standing firmly on their short spindly legs, these owls are both curious and very protective of their found "homes." They are not diggers, giving their focus and energy on community and hunting. Often they adopt an abandoned manmade hole or irrigation ditch and end up living nearby human settlements. They are the quiet, inquisitive watchmen that can be found in the daytime, minding their own business and hunting rodents. 

There is a relatively new refuge in Eastern Oregon, at an old army depot, that is making use of their abandoned shelters for burrowing owls that at one time were thriving in the area. The Owl Research Institute is making progress in restoring these endangered "parliaments". 

Scroll down for videos about this refuge.

18 x 20" - 3D metallic desert trash with small acrylic painting

"Native" represents the species of Burrowing Owls that are native to the Phoenix metro valley and have actually learned to live within the cities. Unfortunately, many are being destroyed because of rodent poison, to the point of now being classified as an endangered species.  In years past they would work alongside field workers and eat the rodents that would eat crops. They were respected and thrived among people. Now, simply finding other methods of controlling pests would make a huge difference in the survival rate of these cute daytime hunters.

8 x 19" - 3D metallic desert trash with small acrylic painting

"Scooter" is a resident of a burrowing owl shelter in the city. They have adapted quite easily to other man-made shelters and can often been found in congested areas, down an alley or near a canal or water retention area. There are several relocation projects in the Phoenix valley, where these beautiful daylight hunting owls are found. Scooter was a bit wary of me showing up to photograph and observe him. He took the "ready to fly" posture with me for a bit. Then became comfortable with me and stood up straight to be a lookout, as Burrowing Owls often do.

22 x 13" - 3D metallic desert trash with small acrylic painting

Becca caught a photo of this burrowing owl in "Sentinel" on a fence post nearby a large agricultural site.  Burrowing owls have historically been the pest eliminators for farmers until poisons  took their place, causing these owls to tetter on extinction.