There are five species of Owl in the UK: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Long Eared Owl, Short Eared Owl and Little Owl. With the exception of the Small Eared, Owls nest in holes in trees, large nests or inside barns and buildings. With humans encroaching on more and more of their natural habitat, by cutting down forests for roads, building houses and the fashion for converting old barns and outbuildings into habitable properties for people, owls habitats are threatened.
Siting Owl Nest Boxes in your garden or on a piece of land can help protect these wonderful native bird species. An Owl Nesting Box provides a safe haven for owls to roost, breed and bring up their young.
Owl Houses can be positioned in trees, on a pole and on the outside or even inside of a building if there is access for the bird. Barn Owl Boxes in particular can be fixed inside a building even if the building is in use as barn owls can become used to some activity. It is generally recommended that the access point to the barn and the nest box should be at least 3m (10ft) off the ground.
There are various designs of Owl Box on the market suitable for different sites. Young Owls or Owlets often fall out of a nest when they first start venturing outside; therefore it is important for the nesting site within the box to be below the level of the entrance hole. Although there are some designs that are on the same level which are fine if they are sited correctly in the branches of a tree. If a box is mounted on a pole then a design with a shelf that runs around the box can be used for the owlets to fall onto or to exercise on.
Tawny Owl Boxes are often designed in the form of long rectangular tubes, which are placed under the branch of a tree often at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This simulates the natural holes that Tawny Owls like to nest in.
The design of a nesting box for a little owl is not so important as they tend to nest in a variety of places and boxes. The main thing to note is that the entrance hole should be quite small (approximately 70mm diameter).
Owl Nest Boxes should be sited in an area sheltered from the elements and generally away from too much activity or habitation. One of the most important considerations for siting any nesting box is to be aware of the habitat that attracts the owls' prey. Typically, owls feed on small voles, mice and other rodents. These small creatures prefer tussocky grass fields to hide in. The grass needs to be quite tall with a deep litter layer. In fact, creating the habitat can be more important than providing a nest box, as large amounts of prey will attract owls to the area and encourage breeding. It is a good idea not to place a nesting box too near a main road as cars kill a lot of owls every year.
More information on nest boxes can be found at:
Nesting Boxes
Bird Nest Boxes
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