Owl Nest Boxes
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Owl Nest Boxes - Attract Owls to your garden
Owls are a fantastic and mysterious bird of prey. Mainly nocturnal and usually hunting after darkness, means they are rarely seen. In the UK there are five species: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Long Eared and Short Eared Owl. There are many more species in the rest of the world and they range in size from the tiny Pygmy and Elf Owls to the huge Eagle Owl.
Owls like to nest in holes in trees, rocky craggs and even barns and outbuildings. Many are endangered due to loss of suitable nesting sites and loss of suitable habitat for their prey, which typically consists of small rodents and voles. Therefore, placing an Owl Nest Box on your land or in your garden can help provide these amazing birds with a place to roost and rear their young.
Owls like to nest in holes in trees, rocky craggs and even barns and outbuildings. Many are endangered due to loss of suitable nesting sites and loss of suitable habitat for their prey, which typically consists of small rodents and voles. Therefore, placing an Owl Nest Box on your land or in your garden can help provide these amazing birds with a place to roost and rear their young.
UK Owl Nest Boxes
Owl Boxes for UK Owl Species
Owl nest sites vary by species. Barn owls typically like to use barns and outbuildings. Tawny owls will nest in a hole left in a tree when a bough breaks off, little owls will nest in cracks and crevices in rocks and will also use buildings. Long eared owls will often use a large bird nest or abandoned squirrel dray. Small eared owls nest on the ground and do not tend to use boxes.There are, therefore, three main types of owl box design to suit UK owl species, these are designed to replicate the owls natural nest site. The three designs are:
- Long tubular design - suitable for tawny owls
- Large house like box with an external platform - suitable for barn owls
- Standard nest box with a large rectangular hole - suitable for little owls
Barn Owl Flying Print from AllPosters.com
Siting Owl Nest Boxes
One of the most important aspects of siting an owl box is to place it in close proximity to suitable hunting grounds. Small rodents and voles like tussocky grass i.e. fields that have been allowed to grow and have lots of dead grass at the base. Therefore, siting the box near open and un-cultivated land is ideal. Tawny owls roost in holes in broken tree boughs, so the boxes are often sited under a branch or on a tree at about a 45 degree angle. Barn owl boxes are sited on the edge of a group of trees, preferably near a known nest site. Often when an out building has been renovated and can no longer be used as a nest site, it is a good idea to place a nest box near by. Best time of year to put up an owl box
Owls will often look for a nesting site during Autumn, Winter or early Spring. Some species will breed year round, but the most popular time is Spring. Therefore, an owl nest box can be erected at any time of year. Unlike garden bird boxes, however, that may be occupied very quickly, it may be a couple of years before an Owl Box is used for nesting. However, even if you do not see nesting activitiy, owls may still use the box as a roosting site, especially during the winter months. Further Owl Nest Box Information for UK Owl Species
- Owl Nest Boxes
- Great information on purchase and siting of owl nest boxes to suit barn owls, little owls and tawny owls.
Pygmy Owl in Nest Print from AllPosters.com
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North American Owls
There are far more species of Owl in North America than just the five found in the UK. They include:
....to name but a few.
- Great Grey Owl
- Screech Owl
- Pygmy Owl
- Burrowing Owl
- Barred Owl
- Great Horned Owl
....to name but a few.
Owl Calls
Listen to or buy samples of owl calls
Listen to the calls of the Eastern Screech Owl, Northern Saw Whet Owl and Barred Owl
American Owl Nest Boxes
Barn owls are found in the UK and America and the large "house" shaped design is similar in both countries. Boxes for other species of American Owl tend to be designed similar to a regular birdhouse but with a larger entrance hole. The boxes are also usually more roomy than a garden bird house to accomodate the larger bodied owl. A commonly available box for a Screech Owl would have a 3 inch entrance hole and be a fairly deep box (approx 22 inches) to prevent the young owlets from falling out.
Short Video on How to Make a Barred Owl Nest Box
Why not make your own owl nest box?
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American Owl Nest Boxes
Nest boxes for Owls in the USA
Great Owl Boxes for a range of different owls species found in the USA
Cartoon Owl Print from AllPosters.com
Owl Nest Box Cameras
Make your own wildlife documentary
Did you know that with current miniature camera technology, you can watch the owl's natural behaviour inside the nesting box from the comfort of your home? A nest box camera can be fitted inside the nesting chamber before an owl takes up residence. You can then film 24 hours a day without disturbing the bird. Nest box cameras are available in black and white or full colour and high resolution. They also come in wired or wireless formats to suit all sites and all budgets.
Miniature camera for Owl Nest Boxes
Miniature video camera for wildlife viewing. Connects to the television. Real-time, color video. Infrared night vision. Built in microphone. Weather shield allows outdoor use. The Hawk Eye Nature Cam is a miniature television camera that brings the great-out-of-doors right into the living room! Also has a 6 volt transformer and 100 ft of extendable cable. 6.00 inches tall x 3.00 inches long x 0.75 inches wide
Hawk Eye Nature Cam
Amazon Price: $59.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
Why not build your own nest box?
Woodworking plans package
Click here for Ted Woodworking Plans Package
Over 16,000 different DIY project ideas for the home and garden.
Other Nest Box Pages
A note on keeping owls as pets
With the advent of the popular Harry Potter books and films, there have been a growing number of enquiries to pet shops about keeping an owl as a pet. Let us know if you think it is OK to keep an Owl as a pet in the debate module below.
Pet Owl Debate
Should people keep owls as pets?
Yes, I think it is fine for an owl to be kept as a pet - it's a hoot
Don't be a taawitt tawooo they are wild animals and should remain in the wild
livingfrontiers says:
No, but they can help them stay around by building a nest box!
VickiSims says:
It's against the law in the US without the proper permits. About the only people who can legally keep them are those who are licensed wildlife rehabilitators and educators who keep owls that have been injured and can't survive on their own in the wild.
TheLittleCardShop says:
No, they should be left in the wild where they belong. Better take your camera and try to get as many photos as you can. I think it is not nice to have them in cages.
Owl Nest Box Feedback
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VickiSims
Jan 28, 2012 @ 11:26 pm | delete
- I've put up nest boxes but so far no takers. I have heard and seen some barred owls in our neighborhood but apparently they prefer other housing.
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vallain Jan 22, 2012 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- Very informative and nicely illustrated. I hear an owl each evening in the summer. Maybe I should get it a nest box. Possibly from the call it makes, I could figure out what kind it is.
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tractiontech
Jan 17, 2012 @ 1:31 am | delete
- Thanks for the info. I see them in my yard during the fall and early winter. The Great Horned Owls. Very Cool
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livefamilylife Apr 3, 2011 @ 10:05 pm | delete
- Really like this lens
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ideadesigns
Apr 2, 2011 @ 9:10 am | delete
- This is a really good explanation of an owl nest box. The video shows good enough detail for making one. The are amazing creatures of the night!
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Other Owl Products
Information for attracting other bird species to the garden
Nest boxes for birds
If you are interested in birds then a great way to attract them near your home is to to place a nest box or two in the garden.
- Nest Boxes
- Nest Boxes for birds and animals
- Nest box cameras
- Nest box cameras for watching different bird species in the nest
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Owls of North America
Helen Roney Sattler
The Book of North American Owls
Amazon Price: $4.37 (as of 06/03/2012)
Sattler begins with a personal childhood story and often introduces a new topic with anecdotal narrative to draw in youngsters. Historical and scientific background information is given, followed by a clearly organized picture of the bird's life cycle and place in nature.
Screech Owl Box
Hand Crafted in Michigan
Stovall 6H Screech Owl Box
Amazon Price: $42.99 (as of 06/03/2012)
- Screech Owl/Kestrel Box with a 3-inch entrance hole
- Hand sanded and assembled with stainless steel and dichromate plated screws
- Dimensions: 22-inch by 8.25-inch by 11.25-inch
- All cedar construction
- Hand crafted in Michigan
