Burrowing Owls

Presenter: Dawn Brodie

Presentation Description

After “retirement” in 2014 an opportunity arose with the Upper Nicola Band to set up a Burrowing Owl Reintroduction site. The Upper Nicola Band Burrowing Owl Reintroduction Program is now in the 10th year. Since 2016 the Band has supported this program as part of their Species at Risk program. Along with my co-worker Loretta Holmes, we have found this program a rewarding experience and an honour to participate. The Band, Chief and community welcome the owls at the annual release with prayer, drumming and song. Chief Daniel Manuel stated: “The Nation is honoured to be an important part of establishing a self-perpetuating population of sq̓əq̓iwɬʷ (Burrowing Owl) on our traditional lands and reversing the decline of Burrowing Owls in BC and Canada.

Dawn Brodie has worked for over 30 years to help conserve Burrowing Owl populations in British Columbia.  Domestic livestock (cattle, sheep and a few hundred racoons…another story) were an important part of Dawn’s life and as a registered Animal Health Technologist, their health and welfare were a priority.