Barred Owl Nest Box Placement

So don t place a nest box on a building or a bare pole.

Barred owl nest box placement.

Barred owls prefer to nest in lowland mature forest areas. Barred owls make distinctive calls. Since the nest box comes with such a prominent rain guard it does not matter which way you face the box in terms of weather. Avoid facing the nest box north.

Have someone help you push the sides together so. Shaded areas in sparse woods streamside forests farmland suburban backyards and city parks. 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. Nesting platforms can also be placed in barns steeples or silos if the owls will be able to access them easily.

Mount so that no branches or leaves obscure the entrance hole. Place 3 4 of wood chips in bottom of box. Otherwise you will have problems later. The house also should be at least 15 feet off the ground.

Face the entry hole east or south where possible as the birds like to sit in the entranceway even during the day to soak up sunlight. Barred owl nest box placement nest boxes for barred owls must be placed within the dense forest not on the edge. Pick a tree that is more than 1 foot in diameter to hang the owl house and hang the owl house on the part of the tree facing north or that is not directly facing the sun. Add a couple of inches of wood chips or dry leaves.

Place a barn owl nest box at least 15 20 feet high but be sure the opening is shaded from the sun and wind. I always place the box in a hardwood tree near some hemlocks. Speak to the barred owls. If it is not right pull the sides apart and redo the step.

If the box is mounted on a pole use a baffle to prevent cats raccoons and other predators from reaching it. Locate box within 200 of water if possible. The further you place the box from human activity the better your chances of having an owl use it it should be no closer than 150 feet. The entrance hole should face away from the prevailing rain direction if possible.

Placement the best place to locate a nest box is where barred owls are already present usually in wet woods with large trees especially hemlock trees which the owls like for roosting. Inside the woods the direction the barred owl house faces doesn t matter as much. Scatter untreated wood chips on the floor of the owl box. Place the box 10 to 15 feet up in a tree.

The truth is eight to ten feet is quite fine and enables the owner to check the box more easily and safely.