Aruba

A tiny owl shoveling sand with its feet is what you can stumble upon in Aruba.

The Shoco is Aruba’s national symbol. They’re monogamous lovebirds thriving in sand. Tiny owls only found in Aruba. 

The owl is endangered. Dogs, cats, and boas (all human-introduced) threaten its existence. Constructional sand piles that attract the owl to nest where they can unintentionally get killed. 

If you’re in Aruba, you’re encouraged to report any nest or Shoco sightings to the Aruba Birdlife Conservation as a part of the Shoco Conservation Program.