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Owls: Alliance urges city to secure permitted biologist for burrowing-owl banding
Summary
A representative of the Santa Clara Valley Burrowing Owl Alliance told the commission the city needs a biologist with the right permit to band young burrowing owls when they fledge and recommended securing a contract to ensure the work is done this season.
Shani Kleinhauser of the Santa Clara Valley Burrowing Owl Alliance addressed the commission during oral communications on March 12 and urged the city to ensure the banding of burrowing-owl fledglings this season.
Kleinhauser said banding is scientifically important and that the biologist who used to perform the work for the city is currently on leave. She described banding as difficult and expensive because nesting and fledging times are staggered and the work requires a permitted biologist; without a qualified contractor the city risked missing the banding window. "I'm hoping that the city invests in finding a biologist who has that kind of permit and having a contract in place before the time that the burrowing owls emerge from the nests," Kleinhauser said.
Kleinhauser said last year some banding did not occur and that timely action this season is crucial to the scientific value of the monitoring program.
What happens next: The comment was entered into the public record. Kleinhauser asked city staff to secure a permitted biologist and contract in time to band fledglings this season; no formal staff commitment was recorded in the meeting minutes.
