Barn Owl Box Placement

Barn owl nesting occurs at different times of year depending where in calfiornia they live.

Barn owl box placement.

The truth is eight to ten feet is quite fine and enables the owner to check the box more easily and safely. Barn owl nest boxes in the uk ireland should be placed in open countryside in isolated trees or trees that overlook open habitat. Place the box 10 to 15 feet up in a tree. In urban areas barn owls do well as long as there are hunting grounds nearby like parks ball fields golf course cemetery.

If there s a large building that a barn owl can enter at 3 metres above the ground then this is almost certainly the best place to put a new barn owl nestbox. If you have the ability to hang a nest box in a barn or outbuilding or on the outside this is the best place for it. Is easier to erect. A typical clutch is composed of 5 7 eggs and incubate for around 32 days.

Sites within 1 km of a motorway or other fast unscreened main road should be avoided due to the risk of road deaths. What to do when the box becomes occupied. Avoid urban suburban dense forest and high mountain areas. In southern california they can nest year round.

Once the box is installed neither pest species nor the barn owls will have access to the interior of the barn. Avoid placing a box close to power poles or other dangerous prominent objects. Barn owls are also known to leverage water sources ponds or streams with pools can be found useful by the owls. However the box should not be too close to dense woods which in northern california are the habitat of the great horned owl and the red tailed hawk the barn owl s primary predators.

During this time try to eliminate any disturbances around the box. Place a barn owl nest box at least 15 20 feet high but be sure the opening is shaded from the sun and wind. We have even come across a family of barn owls rearing young on a stack of hay in a hay barn. The nest box needs to be mounted at least 12 off the ground.

Screech owls don t build nests inside the box so make sure you scatter 2 to 3 inches of untreated wood shavings such as those sold for rabbit bedding at. Best option barn owl nestbox inside a building. An owl box in a building. Boxes may be located near tree lines 100 yards to provide a nearby perch for young as they venture out of the nest.

Barn model installation instructions download pdf. If the box is mounted on a pole use a baffle to prevent cats raccoons and other predators from reaching it.