Dorothy E. Crowe Kathleen M. Longshore 2013 We evaluated nest site selection at two spatial scales (microsite, territory) and reproductive success of Western Burrowing Owls (<i>Athene cunicularia hypugaea</i>) at three spatial scales (microsite, territory, landscape) in the eastern Mojave Desert. We used binary logistic regression within an information-theoretic approach to assess factors influencing nest site choice and nesting success. Microsite-scale variables favored by owls included burrows excavated by desert tortoise (<i>Gopherus agassizii</i>), burrows with a large mound of excavated soil at the entrance, and a greater number of satellite burrows within 5 m of the nest burrow. At the territory scale, owls preferred patches with greater cover of creosote bush (<i>Larrea tridentata</i>) within 50 m of the nest burrow. An interaction between the presence or absence of a calcic soil horizon layer over the top of the burrow (microsite) and the number of burrows within 50 m (territory) influenced nest site choice. Nesting success was influenced by a greater number of burrows within 5 m of the nest burrow. Total cool season precipitation was a predictor of nesting success at the landscape scale. Conservation strategies can rely on management of habitat for favored and productive nesting sites for this declining species. application/pdf 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.03.004 en Elsevier Nest site characteristics and nesting success of the Western Burrowing Owl in the eastern Mojave Desert article