Burrowing Owl Nest Cam - Oregon – Owl Research Institute

On a former U.S. Army chemical and weapons depot in north-central Oregon, a remarkable recovery is unfolding underground. This burrowing owl nest camera, near Hermiston, looks in on a site now being restored as critical wildlife habitat. A network of artificial burrows, built from repurposed materials, has helped a once-declining population climb from only three or four breeding pairs in the early 2000s to a record year in 2024, with nearly 100 nesting pairs and more than 400 chicks banded in a single season.

The stream makes that conservation success intimate. Burrowing owls are small, alert, and endlessly expressive at the mouth of a burrow, and a live camera can catch courtship, chick-rearing, and the comings and goings of a busy little colony. The land around them, once used for a very different purpose, is now a research area and a vital hub for the species in this part of Oregon.

Few wildlife cameras have a backstory quite like this one, and fewer still can show a recovery you can count in burrows and banded chicks.

The stream is provided by Explore Owl Nests & California Condors. Watch the burrow entrance with patience; these owls have a way of appearing just when the scene seems still.