As a Floridian by birth, Marco Island was our weekend getaway when we needed a change of pace from the avocado grove. It was a short 2 hour drive from the east coast to the west coast. In the early 70's, it was quiet, rather isolated and remote with minimal development. We had a condo near the Snook Inn ("Old Marco") which my dad routinely rented to snowbirds during the season. Through the Deltona Corporation's vision and investors' support the island grew over the decades to its current state with its cornerstone hotel being the JW Marriott on Collier Boulevard. The island's residential development also multiplied and today, few lots remain. All this to say, it is not the natural, unadulterated island I remember as a child but it still remains a beautiful, tropical destination for young and old; both people and owls. These cute burrowing owls have been present on Marco Island for many years and in early 2000, an effort was made to monitor them. The Audubon of the Western Everglades (AWE) now manages the AWE Owl Watch program to protect them. I recall in early 2000, walking to the beach with my very young children and noting the many areas roped off with owls atop these perches. It really did seem that these efforts happened overnight. Today, nearly every block or two, you will see these owl safety zones. Even though urban development is a constant on Marco Island, the owls now have a population of over 400.
Less than a week before our departure, I was flipping through the television and saw this show, The Americas, share a special segment on these unique owls. You can watch the full recording on YouTube. While these owls prefer vacant lots, the development likely took them by surprise. According to city rules, burrows cannot be removed unless a special permit is obtained. It costs approximately $2000.00 to have an burrowing owl safely removed from a property. Burrows can be as large as three feet deep and 5-12 feet long. These birds are helpful as they eat rodents as well as insects like mole crickets and roaches. They hunt during the day and night, which is a major difference from other owl species that are strictly nocturnal.
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