How do burrowing owls respond when humans approach their burrows?

When humans approach the burrows of burrowing owls, the birds typically respond by bobbing up and down. This behavior is likely a method used to gauge the distance of the approaching individual. After this assessment, the owls generally fly a short distance away to maintain their safety.1

Additionally, it is worth noting that when nestlings of the burrowing owl are threatened, they emit a vocalization that mimics the warning buzz of a rattlesnake, a common inhabitant of the rodent burrows they occupy.2