Abstract
The extensive alteration of the environment due to urbanization tends to have a negative effect on wildlife. The development of urban habitats often results in higher levels of pollution, habitat degradation, and fragmentation, which together lead to limited dispersal and higher mortality rates in fauna. However, novel urban habitats can open up niches that benefit certain species. The Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) is a small subspecies of Burrowing Owl that appears to benefit from urbanization. These owls show a patchy distribution that extends across most of Florida. While the owls' historical habitat preferences included open, grassy landscapes, they have been found increasingly in urban areas as urban development has encroached on their natural habitats. The owls in Cape Coral, FL make up one the largest known populations. The city's unique landscape simulates the owls' natural habitat, resulting in their widespread distribution across the city. While the owls are appreciated and widely celebrated in Cape Coral, little contemporary work has been done to determine the state of the population. In this study, a city-wide census of the Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral was conducted to determine the size and distribution of the population. The census was conducted in collaboration with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and the help of citizen scientist volunteers from the community. The population was also compared in relation to urban development to determine the effect of urbanization on owl distribution and habitat selection. While owls were found throughout the city, their distribution was patchy, showing areas of high and low activity. Owls used undeveloped city lots to dig their burrows. However, owls seemed to associate with areas of higher development. Prey availability near urban homes, as well as the amount of direct and indirect protection received from the state, the city, and the residents of Cape Coral likely contribute to this association. The benefits associated to living in these urbanized areas appears to outweigh the costs of urbanization. To sustain the population of Burrowing Owls in the city, a balance between undeveloped and developed lots appears to be required in Cape Coral, FL.