A rare sighting of ⁤a burrowing owl in Tennessee has caught the attention of wildlife‌ experts. The owl, typically found‍ in the southwest and southeast regions of the United States, has made its winter home ⁤on⁣ a former Tennessee Valley Authority fossil gas plant. This marks the first time the species has been‍ seen in the state, and researchers are eager to learn more about this unusual occurrence.

The discovery⁢ was made by‍ a TVA employee, who alerted Mississippi State ‌University wildlife ecologist Scott Rush. Rush and his‍ team have ⁣been​ studying the owl’s behavior and diet to better understand its migration patterns​ and⁤ why it ⁤has chosen this⁢ particular⁣ location.

According to Rush, the burrowing owl’s decline in its natural range is due to a loss of ‌habitat. The birds live in burrows‍ created by prairie dogs and other⁣ animals, but as‍ grasslands are developed,⁣ these habitats are disappearing. This makes the owl’s choice to overwinter in Tennessee even more intriguing.

Through the ‍collection of feathers ‌and analysis⁣ of pellets, Rush and his ⁢team have determined that the owl is a male belonging to the subspecies A.c. hypugaea. They have also discovered that its diet consists of a variety of insects, ‍mammals, and plants. ⁤Additionally, an isotopic analysis ⁤of its ​feathers has revealed that​ the⁣ owl likely originated from Texas, near Dallas.

The TVA has been working closely with Rush‍ and his⁤ team to protect the owl and⁤ ensure that their actions comply ‍with state and federal laws. Liz ‍Hamrick, a terrestrial zoologist with TVA, emphasizes the importance of monitoring⁤ and ⁤protecting new species that may be shifting to ​the area.

The research on this burrowing owl has been published in the journal Verify List, and the team hopes to continue their study‌ by outfitting the owl with a GPS tracker.‌ This will allow them to ⁤confirm its home range and gather more information about‌ its migration.

In conclusion, the ⁢unexpected appearance ⁤of a burrowing owl in Tennessee has sparked interest and ⁤research in the scientific community. With the⁤ help of TVA and Mississippi State University,‌ we may soon uncover more about ⁣this fascinating bird and its⁢ unusual ⁢migration.