An owl box works just like a bird box but instead it is for an owl therefore it is bigger. Owls don’t really make much effort when they are building their nests and often just steal old nests from other birds so its always helpful when humans provide them with a great owl box to reside in while they bring up their young.
But the big question remains, where should you put an owl box in your garden?
The condensed answer lays within the following points
- Place away from traffic and power lines
- Ensure it faces into an open area
- Face the box away from oncoming wind and rain
- Ensure the mount is sturdy and safe
- Place it somewhere quiet and undisturbed
An owl box can be successfully placed in two main areas
- Indoors
- Outdoors
Indoor Owl Boxes
Many owls, such as the famous Barn owl, choose to nest inside buildings. Often this is within farmers outhouses such as barns or stables where they are well sheltered from the rain, and can rest relatively peacefully (apart from when the farmer or nearby animals are banging about in there but that can be overlooked by these owls). So, how about consider placing your owl box indoors if you have the means to do so? By ‘means to do so’ I mean a suitable indoor habitat. An area is suitable when it is a relatively quiet outhouse surrounded by countryside away from any roads. Also ensure it is easy for the owl to leave and return (and its partner) to and from the outhouse so they can collect food and bring it back to the owlets in the nest. The most preferable would be an entry hole that is higher up but if you know the owls often enter through the usual doorway anyway, this should be fine. The positive of an indoor nest box often means its going to be a cheaper option because you don’t have to be extra certain the box will be wind and rain proofed and because of the protection the owl box will have from the building means it will last longer.
Outdoor Owl Boxes
Outdoor owl boxes can also be split into different types
- Mounted on a tree
- Mounted on a pole
Mounted On a Tree
Mounting your owl box onto a tree is a more expensive option because this box is going to be exposed to all weather conditions and therefore this box has to be waterproof and sturdy! Also you are at risk for other animals to take over the box more so than indoor owl boxes and not as many wild animals will wonder into an outhouse compared to a tree. This of course isnt the end of the world, providing a home to any wild animal is always a win, but when you specifically want to house an owl then this may be frustrating to keep getting squirrels!
Please, please, please! Make sure you attach the owl box properly so that there is no chance of the box falling from the tree, this could lead to injury or death for any living being nearby and this must be avoided at all costs! Also I cannot stress enough how important it is for the owl box to have a constant opening, which is just a hole. Never try and create a fancy door or flap, it isn’t necessary and is just dangerous because owls wont figure out how to open it and it could lead to owls and owlets getting trapped and dying. Just place the main nest part towards the back of the box away from the entrance and then any rain and wind that does manage to come in, wont affect the nest at all.
Owl boxes attached to trees should be erected onto a tree that is somewhere relatively quiet and peaceful, away from any serious disturbances and away from urban areas. We don’t want an owl to nest too close to where humans frequent so ensure the spot is a quiet garden / wood / path but don’t choose somewhere too deep into a forest / dense wood as in some countries this is where the majority of the owls predators are found. Therefore the best spot is around the outskirts of these quiet areas. Make sure they are not only nowhere near traffic but also nowhere close to power lines, as these are major killers of owls. Also always ensure that the owl box is erected on the side of the tree facing away from wind (of course the wind will blow wherever the wind wants to but generally speaking) and ensure the owl can easily fly out and in to the owl box with ease, so perhaps place on a tree with a decent flight path leading to it.
Mounted On a Pole
This type of owl box location is not usually advised because they are the most expensive and are extremely hard to upkeep and erect because they are constantly exposed to all weather conditions. That’s not to say it isn’t a good idea at all though, its still better than not providing an owl box at all, it just means you will have to keep an eye on it more. Owl boxes mounted on a pole can be erected anywhere and are not limited to finding perfect trees or having to have a suitable outhouse, so this is a huge benefit.
I have the stress though how this type of owl box cannot be erected and then forgotten about, it must be checked on to ensure it is still safe for the owls to nest within. This means ensuring it isn’t damaged after nights of fast winds and heavy rainfall (just look from afar as we don’t want to disturb the nestlings). Make sure you erect the pole with a machine that will ensure the pole is right into the ground to ensure sturdiness and safety. This may be expensive but if this is going to be your choice of spot for your owl box, this needs to be invested it for the safety and wellbeing of the owls.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as always, the main priority is the owls safety and ensuring the owl box is going to provide a successful home for owlets to be brought up in. Generally if the owl box is not placed in a preferable area then it will be unsuccessful and owls will choose to nest elsewhere. You will know if an owl has decided to occupy your owl box by seeing if there are any signs around the entry hole of an owl entering and exiting, also there will be pellet debris on the floor below. Sometimes it isn’t obvious whether the box is in use so don’t keep bothering the owl box to keep checking as owls do not like to be disturbed and Barn owls are actually protected by a law that states it is illegal to disturb their nest and occupied nests even if it is the box you set up, it can only be visited by someone who holds an owl license.
Im sure you are eager to watch your owl box and therefore want to place it in a location where you can see it in hopes you’ll get a glimpse of the owls, but i’m afraid this isn’t what is best for the owls. The owls need privacy and if they feel they are being watched or can see the movement of the house then they will not nest there as it will not feel like a safe environment. Sadly what we want, isn’t what the owl would want so we must always respect the owls needs first and foremost!