The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands, written by Deborah Hodge and illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Grundwood Books, 2026. $21.99 ages 6 and up

 

"It's spring on the wide, windswept prairie, and 
under a vast and beautiful sky, small brown owls
are returning from a winter away. They have come
back to lay their eggs and raise their young.

They are burrowing owls - little owls with long 
legs that live in underground burrows and run 
along the dry, grassy lands of wester Canada
and the western and midwestern United States."

These owls are the only ones in the world to live under the ground. Their lives are not easy. They have been declared an endangered species in Canada, due to an estimated 90% decline in population. Their biggest challenge has been a loss of habitat. Ms. Hodge focuses her attention on Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan where this owl family lives. 

They have returned to the prairie landscape from a winter in Texas and Mexico to this protected land that is vital to their existence and to that of other prairie animals. The lands where they once flourished have been taken over by farming, and they must find safe places on grazed pastures. It's a precarious existence for these tiny creatures. The burrows that house and protect them from predators and the weather originally belonged to prairie dogs, badgers, and other digging animals. From there they find needed food and protection from predators. 

Returning owls find mates, breed, and get to the work of raising a new family. They improve the burrow, and the female lays her eggs deep within - one egg each day for up to twelve eggs. She keeps them warm while the male provides the food needed. He also keeps watch from above. Owlets are born after a month, and stay inside the burrow for two weeks. Biologists often help with additional food because of the numbers of babies. This helps to strengthen their numbers. 

As the owlets grow, the threat to their safety increases and they must learn to protect themselves. At six weeks, they learn to fly and make a life of their own, all the while preparing for a fall migration to warmer climes. They may return to the same place the following year, or not; they will return to the prairie grasslands to begin the cycle once again. 

As has happened previously in books of this series, Wild by Nature, Ms. Reczuch's realistic watercolor and pencil illustrations give young readers images that capture their attention and provide a close-up look at owls, their family, and the prairie setting that is their home every summer.