How barrels helped bring burrowing owls from the brink

HERMISTON, Ore. — Out in eastern Oregon, a colony of tiny owls is thriving, thanks to old apple juice barrels.

The little birds who nest in the ground instead of trees — aptly called burrowing owls — were starting to die off out at the Rees Training Center, a National Guard training center in Hermiston. Back in 2018, there were only four nesting pairs left — until Oregon conservationists stepped in.

The Oregon Military Department, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Global Owl Project came up with a plan to help them survive.

Conserving the owls is a win-win for the owls but also for the military: If burrowing owls got onto the endangered species list, it would restrict the military from using that land.

"Our primary concern at the (Department of Defense)