They're diminutive, less than a foot tall, but their claim to the open spaces and arid plains of the West runs as deep as the bisons'. They're skilled hunters in the prairie night.

Burrowing owls live in holes created by other creatures. They rely most on abandoned prairie dog holes, as sanctuary from predators, as nesting places. 

Our region is home to year-round burrowing owl populations – they're glimpsed occasionally in daylight, in pastures or on fenceposts. But new research shows West Texas is also a critical hub for owls from very far away. The research tells a stunning story.

David Johnson is director of the Global Owl Project. Recently, his research took him to Dell City...