It's spring in Grasslands National Park and burrowing owls are returning from a winter away to lay their eggs in this rare and protected habitat.
Lush illustrations celebrate the magnificent wild prairie of Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan and feature the remarkable burrowing owls - the only owls in the world to live underground! Meet the owls as they prepare a burrow and lay their eggs. See tiny fuzzy owlets hatch and grow before flying to Mexico and Texas for the winter.
Sadly, these little owls who were once common in the grasslands of western and mid-western North America are now endangered. As the wild prairies were farmed and developed, far fewer places were left for the owls to nest and raise their young.
Today, biologists, Indigenous groups, landowners and conservationists are working hard to restore the vital grasslands and help this precarious species recover.
Includes an author's note about successful burrowing owl recovery programs and other wild animals of Grasslands National Park.
The books in the Wild by Nature series explore the unique links between ecologically sensitive species and habitats, and encourage the preservation of the world's wild spaces.
Key Text Features
illustrations
author's note
further information
further reading
facts
Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.7
Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.3
Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.6
Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe. It's spring in Grasslands National Park and burrowing owls are returning from a winter away to lay their eggs in this rare and protected habitat. • WILD BY NATURE: This is the second Wild by Nature book, a hopeful and intriguing new series from the duo behind the West Coast Wild books. With warm illustrations and supporting end matter, this series encourages young readers to learn about endangered species and their environments.
• LIFE CYCLES & ADAPTATION: Providing clear and simply worded explanations on the life cycle of burrowing owls (the only owls in the world that live underground!), and how animals adapt to the places they live, this book is perfect as supplemental material for many Grade K-2 science curriculums.
• SPRINGBOARD FOR DISCUSSION: With a hopeful tone and educational content, The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands is a good springboard for teachers and parents to discuss the concepts of endangered and protected species, and the effects of human intrusion on natural habitats with young children.
