Prey Delivery Inside an Artificial Nest Box and Burrows Used by Nesting Burrowing Owls in El Paso, Texas

ABSTRACT Determining the diet of species that nest underground, such as Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), is challenging. Prey information for Owls often limited to prey remains at sites and in owl pellets, images collected from above-ground trail cameras, or direct observations acquisition delivery. To document use nesting behaviors, we equipped an artificial box burrows Rio Bosque Wetlands Park El Paso, Texas, with a digital video recorder three underground infrared cameras. Herein types frequencies items delivered inside during 2019 season, reflected videos continuously 1 April 5 July. We reviewed 23,039 files documented 580 deliveries. identified 463 (80%) class 237 (41%) family. Invertebrates made up 75% vertebrates 25% identifiable by frequency. Most (55%) invertebrates were insects, especially orders Orthoptera Blattodea; scorpions (Scorpiones) second most common group (2% all items). Vertebrate less mostly consisted rodents (14% items), heteromyids, followed squamate reptiles (6%). Results this project will aid conservation management species.