A burrowing owl stands near the Salton Sea in California, on May 24, 2007. Researchers have discovered a group of rare owls thriving in a nature preserve near Los Angeles International Airport.

(Douglas Barnum, U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

At a Glance

Researchers have found a group of 10 burrowing owls in the LAX Dunes Preserve.The preserve sits right on the edge of Los Angeles International Airport.The beachside community of Surfridge was dismantled to make room for airport growth.Restoration of the preserve, which is now home to 900 species of plants and animals, began in the 1990s.

At the western end of Los Angeles International Airport, enveloped in the constant roar of jet engines, a group of rare burrowing owls are thriving.

Scientists have found 10 burrowing owls in the , the Los Angeles Times reported. It's the most they have seen in 40 years.

"This is very exciting – a real stunner," said Pete Bloom, a biologist and avian expert who helped conduct a wildlife survey this month.

“For wintering owls, this tiny chunk of land has become priceless coastal real estate,” Bloom told the newspaper. “That’s because there is no place else left for them to go in the city of Los Angeles.”

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The preserve was once the community of Surfridge. After years of disputes between neighbors and the growing airport, the city used eminent domain to buy or condemn the houses. Years of lawsuits followed, but the last of Surfridge's 800 homes were , a Los Angeles Times history of the community said.

A pair of nesting burrowing owls near the Salton Sea in California, on August 4, 2010. Researchers have discovered a group of rare owls thriving in a nature preserve near Los Angeles International Airport.

(Douglas Barnum, U. S. Geological Survey)

Restoration of the dunes began in the 1990s. Today, 900 species of plants and animals, including thousands of endangered , call the preserve home.

“For biologists, the preserve has become an ecological hot spot sandwiched between a popular beach and the third-busiest airport in the nation,” said Robert Fisher, a U.S. Geological Survey biologist. “We aim to make sure things stay that way.”

Biologists believe there is a chance that the juvenile burrowing owl, which is a migratory species, could become a permanent resident of the preserve.

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In addition to the owls and butterflies, other species on the dunes include the native evening primrose; California gnatcatcher, a federally protected bird; and Blainville’s horned lizards.

Earlier this month, researchers found six specimens of , a reptile species that scientists have studied very little.