Early birds: Burrowing owl nesting season reaches its peak

​The burrowing owl nesting season is hitting its peak, just in time for some public celebrations centered around Cape Coral’s official bird.

More than 3,000 of these pint-sized birds can be found in the city, and support groups and government organizations hold events to raise public awareness about the threatened species.

“The babies are starting to pop up, but there is increasing pressure to build and that puts more pressure on nesting owls,” said Janet Windisch, spokeswoman for Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. “We’re trying to purchase land as fast as we can and we’re trying to get people to start burrows in their yard. That’s our defense against loss of habitat.”