This bright-eyed burrowing owl is emerging from its burrow just in time to enjoy the sunset here in Northern California. And yes, you read that right—it’s a burrowing owl. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls nest and roost underground, often in tunnels abandoned by ground squirrels or prairie dogs. It"s one of many traits that make the pint-sized species unique among owls. Burrowing owls live in grasslands, deserts, or other open dry areas with low vegetation. When threatened, they retreat to their burrows and are known to frighten off predators by mimicking the rattling and hissing sounds of a rattlesnake. And while most other owls sleep during the daytime, burrowing owls are often active in the daylight hours. It"s as if they didn"t finish proper owl training.
Here s looking at you
Today in History
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Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia
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World Octopus Day
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International Archaeology Day
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Ruins of Inca temples and terraces on Huayna Picchu, Peru
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Nazaré Lighthouse
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The story of a rediscovered redwood
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Bald cypress trees in Georgia
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World Turtle Day
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Steyr River, Austria
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Why, aloe there
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St. Paul Winter Carnival
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Great hornbill, Thailand
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A dramatic view of Sicily
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West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
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Jazzed for Mardi Gras
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Happy Welsh New Year!
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A temple, preserved
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A black heron canopy feeding in Botswana
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Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand
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A medieval Moorish gem
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Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
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Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
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Santo Antão Island in the Republic of Cabo Verde
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Craters of the Moon centennial
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Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act marks 42 years
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Canadian Thanksgiving
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And you thought moths were boring
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Mod gear
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Happy Panda Day!
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