Our Mission

Burrowing Owl Conservation Network advocates for the protection and restoration of the Western Burrowing Owl and promotes the preservation and careful management of habitat to prevent loss, foster healthy populations, and maintain intact natural communities for an ecologically sound future.

Over the last 30 years the western burrowing owl has been under siege from unbridled urban sprawl in Canada, Mexico and the United States.  It was once described as a common species known to almost all California residents, but over time populations have dwindled and in some regions been driven to extinction. We believe burrowing owls are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems and deserve respect as opposed to being viewed and treated as a mere nuisance.

By educating communities, garnering land owner cooperation, championing progressive burrowing owl and habitat management policies and laws, increasing scientific research, and fostering appreciation we will reverse a trend that currently promotes extirpation.

 

In the beginning...

Burrowing Owl Conservation Network began as group of dedicated birders, conservationists, biologists, and concerned citizens who came together to oppose the eviction of a resident population of burrowing owls in Antioch, CA.  Known as the Friends of East Bay Owls, we began our journey to increase conservation efforts for burrowing owls in the East San Francisco Bay Area.  Over time, the situation evolved from a local issue to a California-wide movement focused on restoring habitat, increasing populations and changing inadequate policies directly responsible for the species' decline.

 

Staff

Scott Artis - Founding Director

Over the last 10 years Scott Artis has been succeeding in the field of molecular and cellular biology at the research, application support, and management levels.  These experiences afforded him an opportunity to develop, implement, oversee and document a variety of research projects and provided him with a firm grasp on biological sciences.  Because of his passions for wildlife, conservation and advocacy, in 2003 he co-founded a grassroots,  501(c)(3) nonprofit California public benefit organization that developed and executed community-based programs for the protection of native plants, animals, and their natural communities.  He presided over ECHO Fund, Inc. as President for 4 years, and during this tenure coordinated and led conservation and educational outreach projects; invaluable experiences that are being directly applied to his current burrowing owl conservation efforts.

Since 2008 Scott has been monitoring and actively protecting western burrowing owls in Contra Costa County , while simultaneously working for policy changes at the state level.  During this time he has connected with successful local activists, with conservationists spanning California, Arizona, and western North America, and with community-based and nationally recognized non-profit organizations to further preservation of this declining species. 

Scott holds degrees in Micro & Molecular Biology and in 2008 he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Environmental Sciences; concentrating on Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences. He has also complemented his studies with a  Masters certificate in Environmental Resource Management that focused heavily on Environmental Law & Policy. Scott is a member of the Society for Conservation Biology and The Wildlife Society, including the Western Section and Public Conservation Education & Outreach Working Group.  He is currently pursuing a Masters in Environmental Sciences and Policy.

Larry Jordan - Burrowing Owl Habitat Manager

Larry Jordan is an avid bird watcher, a board member of the Wintu Audubon Society and the County Coordinator for the California Bluebird Recovery Program in Shasta County. He has built three bluebird trails in Shasta County to assist in the revival of the Western Bluebird as well as housing Oak Titmouse, Tree Swallow and the Ash-throated Flycatcher. He is currently in the process, with the help of a grant from California Audubon, of installing artificial burrows to help with the recovery of the Burrowing Owl in California. Two installations have been completed in Northern California and two more are planned.

Larry supports several conservation organizations and is noted as a "Species Champion" for BirdLife International. He writes a blog on birding and conservation at TheBirdersReport.com.

Dee Vieira - East County Program Manager

As an almost 20 year resident of eastern Contra Costa County,  Dee Vieira has been making incredible strides in burrowing owl conservation.  Her  passion for wildlife led her to burrowing owl advocacy in 2002, and eventually provided her an opportunity through direct involvement to learn the complexities in the burrowing owl mitigation process.  It was during this Antioch, CA project back in 2004 that she witnessed her first burrowing owl eviction and documented the entire process.

Dee has worked on burrowing owl habitats in Arizona and California, including the installation of artificial burrows and the successful release of owls.  Dee spearheaded the allocation and development of a 24 acre burrowing owl preservation habitat at the Antioch Prewett Family Park. Through hard work and unceasing dedication, Dee successfully persuaded the city and Department of Fish & Game to agree to the establishment of Contra Costa County's first burrowing owl preserve as mitigation for displaced owls.

Upon completion of the community center and implementation of city programs, she hopes to continue her advocacy by becoming a part of the burrowing owl education process for this designated habitat.  Dee is presently working on a another development in Antioch where she aspires to achieve more land for owl habitat. It is a work in progress, but a worthy cause for this declining species.

Heather Brust - Outreach Coordinator

 Involved with burrowing owl conservation since 2008, Heather began her efforts by tracking, observing and actively protecting a colony of 11 resident  adult owls that were under threat from impending construction in Antioch, CA .  She has been instrumental in the founding and development of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Network and from 2003 to 2007 served on the Board of the nonprofit conservation group ECHO Fund, Inc.  Heather has coordinated and led community-based conservation and educational outreach projects, uses her lifelong love for wildlife to inspire environmental stewardship, and is a burgeoning wildlife photographer.

Heather has a degree in Social Sciences and is a member of the Wildlife Society.

 

Advisory Board

Pamela Flick

Pamela Flick has more than 13 years experience working for environmental conservation organizations. She currently serves as the California Program Coordinator for Defenders of Wildlife, where she works on a wide variety of wildlife issues, including the conservation of California condor, spotted owl, burrowing owl, Pacific fisher and San Joaquin kit fox, federal lands management and renewable energy development.

Before joining Defenders of Wildlife in 2005, Pamela worked to preserve California’s public lands and rivers as Communications Coordinator and Administrative Director for the California Wild Heritage Campaign. She also served as the Administrative Director of the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign and worked for Friends of the River’s rafting program and membership department.

Pamela has served on the executive committee for Tahoe Council for Wild Bears and the steering committee and advisory committee of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area campaign. She is a member of Western Section - The Wildlife Society and its conservation affairs committee.

Bob & Samantha Fox

Bob and Samantha Fox are the founders of Wild At Heart, an all volunteer non-profit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to raptor rehabilitation in Arizona. Wild At Heart (WAH) developed and has been successfully implementing an award winning prototype burrowing owl program, conceived by Bob and Samantha in 1993, that is recognized as one of the most successful conservation and habitat restoration programs anywhere. WAH has installed approximately 4,500 artificial owl burrows statewide, creating new habitat for over 1,500 burrowing owls.

-The North American Bird Conservation Initiative and The Association of Joint Venture Management Boards bestowed upon WAH a 2008 Bird Conservation Award for unparalleled accomplishments in burrowing owl conservation at the local and regional level.

-Wild At Heart's Burrowing Owl Project received an Award of Merit in Environmental Stewardship, SRP Award Category, at Valley Forward's 25th annual Environmental Excellence Awards celebration.

-On November 3, 2006, Wild At Heart won the Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Ground Award - Open Space Category - for WAH's Burrowing Owl Projects in Tucson and southern Arizona.

 

Greg Clark

Greg Clark has been instrumental in revolutionizing burrowing owl conservation in Arizona through implementation of innovative relocation procedures developed by Wild At Heart Founders Bob and Samantha Fox.  Greg is the Burrowing Owl Habitat Coordinator for Wild At Heart and is a working member of the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative (ABCI).  ABCI is an Arizona Game and Fish Department program that brings together representatives from wildlife organizations, government agencies and private landowners. Partnerships are created to implement conservation projects that will benefit priority habitats and species identified in the Arizona Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan.

According to the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee, "Wild At Heart has been uniquely successful in relocations and hacking due to careful attention to seasonal changes and nesting chronology and development of tailored release protocols. Through effective communications and outreach, it has developed a working relationship with the development community such that Burrowing Owl conservation activities are now part of many development projects."