Trip Report 4: Journey to the Badlands – Burrowing Owls

In today’s final Trip Report from my excursion to the High Plains of North and South Dakota I’m going to focus entirely on a family of Burrowing Owls I watched and photographed in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. I found this group of owls on the morning of my second day in the Badlands and I returned that evening and the third morning to continue to photograph their behavior. These young owls did not seem to care much that I was there, but I was sure to keep a good distance from them as not to disturb them. Occasionally, one or more would appear to close their eyes and almost nap so I was glad that they were comfortable and not stressed. Because of this I was able to watch them interact in their natural surroundings. They hunted bugs, played, ate food that their parents brought back and watched their close neighbors, the prairie dogs. I took hundreds of photographs of them, but below are my favorite 11 of the bunch. They were a lot of fun to watch and capture on camera and had large personalities for such little critters.

A young owlet tilts his head in curiosity in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
What’s Up?
An owlet takes in the warmth of the morning sun in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Feeling Fine
A burrowing owl chick looks over his wing in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
I’m Batman
A young owl chick tilts his head in curiosity in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Curiosity
A burrowing owl chick yawns in the morning in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Big Yawn
A young owl chick stretches his wing in the morning sun in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Morning Stretch
Two burrowing owl chicks watch quietly outside their home in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Together
Unlike other owls, burrowing owls are active during the day, especially in the spring when gathering food. These owls prefer wide open areas and they are often found perching near their burrow on fence posts and trees. Here, a burrowing owl watches from a distance in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Watching You
Four burrowing owlets look on in curiosity just outside their home in a prairie dog town in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Four of a Kind
An owlet explores his surroundings after leaving his home in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Exploration
A burrowing owl chick picks up a fallen feather in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Fun With Feathers
An owlet shakes his feathers just after sunrise in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Morning Fluff
Four burrowing owl chicks watch quietly outside their home in a prairie dog town in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Siblings

Trip Reports:

Trip Report 1: Journey to the Badlands of North and South Dakota – Landscapes
Trip Report 2: Close-Up Details of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Trip Report 3: Journey to the Badlands of North and South Dakota – Wildlife

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