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Platte River Status: A fairly common nesting species, especially in the western half of the study area. Occurrence dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 3 May to 10 October. Tout (1947) recorded this owl in Lincoln County during 1 May to 13 October. Rosche (1979) found burrowing owl in the lower North Platte River Valley during 24 April to 21 August.

Breeding Range: Fairly common locally on the Western Plain, Sandhills, and within the western third of the Platte River Valley physiographic region. Rare and lightly localized east of Lincoln County.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 800 breeding pairs .

Habitat: We found nesting burrowing owls only in upland prairie where the mean breeding density was 0.2 pairs per km². Preferred habitat in our area appears to be heavily grazed or mowed native grassland, usually associated with black-tailed prairie dog towns. Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) described optimum nesting habitat in the northern Great Plains as heavily grazed native grassland on arid soils. Zarn (1974) considered openness, short vegetation, and availability of fresh rodent burrows essential for optimum habitat.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The loss of black-tailed prairie dog towns coupled with the conversion of native grasslands has greatly reduced the abundance and distribution of burrowing owls in the study area. Swenk (1933) described the location of black-tailed prairie dog towns in Nebraska as related by Thomas Say on the long expedition. On 14 June 1820, the expedition crossed Merrick County from west of Fullerton to south of Grand Island. Black-tailed prairie dog towns were "numerous" in the region. On 16 June 1820, in eastern Buffalo County, east of Kearney, the expedition passed a number of towns, some "extending for miles along the river." Swenk speculated that "here on these flat, prairie dog-inhabited plains of the Platte Valley, without doubt western burrowing owls were encountered abundantly." Today, virtually all of the native grassland in the region described by Thomas Say has been replaced by agricultural crops which are unsuitable for nesting burrowing owls.

Nesting Data: Faanes located 33 breeding pairs in prairie dog towns in Garden, Keith, and Lincoln counties in June 1979. We have located at least 5 nests or broods in Hall County. Courtship activities were observed 5 June 1983 four km west of Grand Island. Weakly (1940) reported that burrowing owl young were "unusually numerous" at North Platte in 1940. Collister (1950) found at least 3 pairs nesting in a prairie dog town 6 km northwest of Paxton in 1949. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 11 April to 10 July, with nesting activity in early June (Johnsgard 1979).