The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count identified 114 species in January and 111 species in February. Between the two counts, a Burrowing Owl was spotted by one of the volunteer birders, which is a new species! This brings the cumulative total to 234 bird species. Click here for the PDF document with the detailed monthly results through February 2017.

According to the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research’s website, the Burrowing Owl is facing extirpation, or local extinction. The Burrowing Owl relies on other animals, like the California Ground Squirrel, to dig the burrows in which they move in to nest and seek shelter in native grassland. In 2004, the San Dieguito River Park worked with local Boy Scouts to create artificial burrows for Burrowing Owls for their Eagle Projects in San Pasqual Valley.

Click here for more information about the San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Surveys.