Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00356
Apply for F15AS00356
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Movements, Fate and Survival of Translocated Western Burrowing Owls" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655 Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2015 and posted on Jul 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $75,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Movements, Fate and Survival of Translocated Western Burrowing Owls" is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) cooperative agreement aimed at filling a major knowledge gap about what happens to western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) after they are moved from development sites to new locations in the southwestern United States. The species is considered of special conservation concern across much of western North America because of documented local and regional declines, and the pressure is especially relevant in areas where habitat is being converted to urban development or energy infrastructure. Because burrowing owls depend on burrows year-round for nesting, shelter, and survival, losing burrows to land conversion can reduce breeding success and overall survival for resident birds as well as migrants and overwintering individuals that use southwestern habitats seasonally.
A central driver behind this project is the regulatory and practical reality of habitat clearing. When land containing occupied burrows is slated for conversion, the site must be cleared in a way that avoids unlawful take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). As described in the announcement, clearing typically occurs outside the normal breeding season (except emergencies) to reduce the chance of harming eggs or dependent young. Burrows are inspected using fiberscopes, and owls are captured at burrow entrances using tools like one-way door traps or noose carpets. After capture, burrows are excavated and collapsed, with care taken to find and remove any remaining owls. Captured owls are commonly placed in a holding facility for about 30 days to reduce their tendency to return to the original site, then moved to a new area for a "hack release" approach. This often involves keeping owls in a pen at the release site (typically with artificial burrows installed) for another 30 days, after which the pen is opened to allow the owls to come and go while they acclimate and explore new burrow options. In some situations, if suitable habitat is available near the cleared area, owls may be released nearby or captured and released at the original site with the expectation they will move to adjacent habitat; this is referred to as passive relocation. The announcement also notes that eggs, nestlings, or fledglings are sometimes encountered unexpectedly during clearing outside the typical breeding season window. Those young may be transferred to rehabilitation facilities to be hatched and reared through post-fledging age before being released, generally at sites outfitted with artificial burrows.
The problem the grant is designed to address is that, despite translocation being used as a mitigation tool, the actual fate, movement patterns, and survival rates of translocated burrowing owls in the Southwest are not well understood. This uncertainty matters because FWS must decide whether to issue permits authorizing these activities and, when permits are issued, what conditions should be required to improve outcomes. The project is intended to generate evidence that can guide permit decisions and strengthen permit conditions, including potential changes to release protocols (for example, how long to hold birds, how to structure hack release, and what habitat features are needed at release sites) and the design of post-release monitoring requirements.
The research objectives are clearly focused on three outcomes. First, the study should document the fates of translocated burrowing owls, meaning whether individuals survive, remain near release areas, disperse, or experience mortality, and ideally what sources of mortality may be involved when detectable. Second, the study should estimate survival rates of translocated owls and compare those estimates to what is already reported in the scientific literature. The announcement suggests that establishing a full control group could be too ambitious, but it points to a possible approach using capture-recapture methods, particularly if there is an existing pool of banded birds that can support comparative inference. Third, the project should document post-release movements, providing information on how far owls travel, whether they attempt to return to capture sites, how they use habitat after release, and what movement patterns might imply about the effectiveness of passive relocation versus hack release, or about the adequacy of artificial burrow installations.
Methodologically, the opportunity anticipates wildlife tracking and identification techniques suited to field monitoring of a small raptor, specifically VHF telemetry and color or alphanumeric banding. VHF telemetry can help locate individuals repeatedly after release, while visible bands support re-sighting, identification, and potential capture-recapture analyses over time. Together, these methods are intended to produce the kind of individual-based movement and survival data needed to evaluate translocation success in a defensible way.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity under a cooperative agreement mechanism, categorized under Natural Resources, with one expected award. The total estimated funding was $75,000, with an award ceiling of $75,000 and a floor of $30,000, and it did not require cost sharing or matching. It was linked to CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation). Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of applicant types as long as they met any additional requirements in the full announcement. The opportunity was originally posted in mid-July 2015, with a closing date that was extended to August 21, 2015, and archived in September 2015. For access and administrative questions, the listed contact was Sara Williams, Budget Grants Analyst at the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Movements, Fate and Survival of Translocated Western Burrowing Owls".
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
It is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under a cooperative agreement.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This is a cooperative agreement and is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to fill a major knowledge gap about what happens to western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) after they are moved (translocated) from development sites to new locations in the southwestern United States, focusing on their movements, survival, and overall fate after release.
Why is this research needed?
Translocation is already being used as a mitigation tool when land with occupied burrows is cleared for development, but the fate, movement patterns, and survival rates of translocated burrowing owls in the Southwest are not well understood. This uncertainty affects how FWS makes permit decisions and what permit conditions should be required to improve outcomes.
Why are western burrowing owls a conservation concern?
The species is considered of special conservation concern across much of western North America due to documented local and regional declines. Pressure is especially relevant where habitat is being converted to urban development or energy infrastructure.
What role do burrows play in burrowing owl survival?
Burrowing owls depend on burrows year-round for nesting, shelter, and survival. Losing burrows to land conversion can reduce breeding success and overall survival for resident birds, as well as for migrants and overwintering individuals that use southwestern habitats seasonally.
How does this work relate to regulatory requirements like the MBTA?
The announcement explains that when land containing occupied burrows is slated for conversion, the site must be cleared in a way that avoids unlawful take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Clearing typically occurs outside the normal breeding season (except emergencies) to reduce the chance of harming eggs or dependent young.
How are occupied burrows checked before clearing?
Burrows are inspected using fiberscopes to determine whether owls are present.
How are burrowing owls captured during clearing operations?
Owls are captured at burrow entrances using tools such as one-way door traps or noose carpets.
What happens to burrows after owls are captured?
After capture, burrows are excavated and collapsed, with care taken to find and remove any remaining owls.
What is the typical holding period mentioned for captured owls?
Captured owls are commonly placed in a holding facility for about 30 days to reduce their tendency to return to the original site.
What is a "hack release" as described in the announcement?
Hack release typically involves moving owls to a new area and keeping them in a pen at the release site (often where artificial burrows are installed) for another 30 days. After that, the pen is opened so the owls can come and go while acclimating and exploring new burrow options.
What is "passive relocation" in this context?
Passive relocation refers to situations where, if suitable habitat is available near the cleared area, owls may be released nearby or captured and released at the original site with the expectation that they will move to adjacent habitat.
What happens if eggs or young are found during clearing?
The announcement notes that eggs, nestlings, or fledglings are sometimes encountered unexpectedly during clearing outside the typical breeding season window. Those young may be transferred to rehabilitation facilities to be hatched and reared through post-fledging age before being released, generally at sites outfitted with artificial burrows.
What are the primary research objectives?
The opportunity outlines three core objectives:
- Document the fates of translocated owls (survival, remaining near release areas, dispersal, mortality, and ideally detectable mortality sources).
- Estimate survival rates of translocated owls and compare them to what is reported in the scientific literature (with capture-recapture approaches mentioned as a possible method).
- Document post-release movements to understand travel distances, attempts to return to capture sites, habitat use after release, and implications for passive relocation versus hack release and for artificial burrow adequacy.
Does the announcement require a control group?
The announcement suggests that establishing a full control group could be too ambitious, but it points to a possible approach using capture-recapture methods, especially if there is an existing pool of banded birds that can support comparative inference.
What monitoring and tracking methods does the opportunity anticipate?
The opportunity anticipates methods suited to monitoring a small raptor, specifically VHF telemetry and color or alphanumeric banding. VHF telemetry supports repeated relocation of individuals after release, while visible bands support re-sighting, identification, and potential capture-recapture analyses over time.
How will the project results be used by FWS?
The project is intended to generate evidence that can guide permit decisions and strengthen permit conditions, including potential changes to release protocols (such as holding duration, hack release structure, and habitat features needed at release sites) and the design of post-release monitoring requirements.
What is the program area/category for this opportunity?
It is categorized under Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
The opportunity is linked to CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation).
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding is $75,000, with an award ceiling of $75,000 and an award floor of $30,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity indicated one expected award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching was not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of applicant types as long as they met any additional requirements in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was originally posted in mid-July 2015. The closing date was extended to August 21, 2015. The opportunity was archived in September 2015.
Who was the contact person listed for this opportunity?
For access and administrative questions, the listed contact was Sara Williams, Budget Grants Analyst at the Fish and Wildlife Service.
What geographic focus does the study emphasize?
The announcement emphasizes translocations and outcomes in the southwestern United States.
What outcomes are considered part of an owl's "fate" in this project?
Fate includes whether individuals survive, remain near release areas, disperse, or experience mortality, and ideally the study would also identify detectable sources of mortality.
What kinds of post-release movement questions is the project trying to answer?
The project seeks to document how far owls travel after release, whether they attempt to return to capture sites, how they use habitat after release, and what observed movement patterns imply about the effectiveness of passive relocation versus hack release and the adequacy of artificial burrow installations.
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