Burrowing owls are small, long-legged grassland birds that nest underground in abandoned burrows. They’ve been part of Canada’s prairie ecosystem for thousands of years, but today, they occupy less than a third of their historical range. In the last four decades, their population in Canada has declined by more than 90%, due to habitat loss, low prey availability, and other pressures.

Through the Wilder Institute’s head-starting program, the youngest owlets—those least likely to survive—are brought into human care for the winter, then released the following spring.

This year’s head-starting cohort has already been taken into human care. Tonight, the team is focused on monitoring the remaining fledglings from both wild nests and those raised by head-started parents—tracking their development and collecting data that will inform future conservation strategies. When a fledgling is located, it’s gently collected and processed. Under the soft glow of lights, the team records weight, feather length, and body condition. Each owl is fitted with a leg band for future identification.

It’s quiet work, done under stars and moonlight. But it’s essential. Each measurement contributes to a clearer picture of how burrowing owls are doing in the wild. Each banded fledgling becomes part of a long-term effort to track survival, movement, and success.

As the night wraps up, the team gathers their equipment and begins the walk back across the prairie. The data collected tonight will help shape decisions in the months ahead—about habitat, head-starting, and how best to support this species on the brink.