INVITE BARN OWLS TO YOUR YARD

[SpyderLady]

INVITE BARN OWLS TO YOUR YARD
Barn owls are one of the world's most common birds, especially in temperate climates - yet many of us have never seen one of these awesome raptors because they live by night.

Barn owls are not quite as shy as most wild birds, so they don't seem to mind living around human activity. You can't walk up and pet a barn owl, of course, but there's a good chance you can encourage a barn owl family to start a family in your yard or neighborhood. All that's required (assuming there are barn owls in your area) is a simple plywood box, a high branch or pole, and a way to get the box up there. Oh…and a little bit of luck.

Baby Barn Owl THE OWLETS ARE COMING!
The best reason to put up an owl box is to make more barn owls and decrease the local rodent population. Barn owls often lay eggs in January, or a bit later in cold climates. Owlets hatch 30 days later and leave the nest full grown at about ten weeks old. A second clutch in summer is not uncommon if food is plentiful.



BARN OWL BENEFITS
• Barn owls are a riot to watch, especially if you position an owl box where it's visible from your house or yard. A pair of binoculars will let you in on the action, both day and night.

By day, between naps, mama puts on a show feeding her young. At night, using flashlights or floodlights, you can watch both parents flying about and bringing dinner home to the kids.
• Barn owls are a huge help in controlling rodents. Got gophers? Barn owls can't wait to help.
• Once you've hung a box, your work is done. It's almost like having a pet - with no vet bills or owl kibbles to pay for!

[SpyderLady]

ATTRACTING BARN OWLS
Barn owls like to nest in a safe secluded cubbyhole. So if barn owls live in your area, the best way to attract them to your yard is to provide a good nesting spot. We recommend a 5/8" or 3/4" plywood house - a 14"x14"x30" box with a 16"x32" roof and 6"x12" doorway.

The exact dimensions of the box aren't as important as where you hang it - preferably 15-25 feet up on a pole or in a tree. For peace and quiet at night, choose a spot away from your bedroom.

Add no nesting material to the box, especially not sawdust (could be inhaled). The owls will happily lay their eggs directly on the hard floor.

Paint the box inside and out for weatherproofing. Some say to hang the box with its door facing northwest. We say face it at a convenient angle for spying on the occupants. Barn owls aren't too picky about the details, especially in milder climates.

HANGING THE BOX
(the hard part)
The ‘big hangup' in attracting barn owls is how do you suspend a 25 lb. box 20 feet off the ground? Climbing trees and ladders is risky business. Be safe, not sorry.

[SpyderLady]

RODENT CONTROL, THE NATURAL WAY
If you're plagued by gophers, rats or mice on your property, why not invite a local barn owl family to take up residence in your neighborhood? Barn owls cost nothing, require no care and, they are fascinating to watch.

DOWN THE HATCH
An adult barn owl will typically gulp down 2-3 rodents a night. And his growing family will bump that up to 10. So for a moderate-sized family, this translates to over 3000 rodents per year - gone forever from your property. Basically for free!

Barn Owl FeedingTHE FARMER'S FRIEND
Modern farms often feature barn owl boxes installed on poles. In the old days barn owls would live in storage bins and barns and hunt in the prairie grasses, which have commonly been replaced by row crops.

ABOUT PELLETS
Owls have a fascinating digestive system. A month-old owlet can gulp down a huge rat, complete and intact. Later that night, you'll see what's left - a little ball of fur, bones and teeth, coughed up in the form of a "pellet."

Pellets on the ground are a sure sign you've got owls.

[Owl]

WE HAVE A PAIR OF OWLS ( NOT SURE WHAT KIND) IN THE WOODS THAT BORDER OUR HOUSE ME AND LITTLE MAN GO OUT IN THE YARD AFTER DINNER AND WATCH THEM I LOVE TO WATCH THEM AND LISTEN TO THEM TOO. THEY USUALLY START GETTING ACTIVE ABOUT 7 PM AND STAY ACTIVE ALL NITE. WE ALSO HAVE BATS THAT ARE WONDERFUL TO WATCH THEY EAT ALOT OF MISQUITOS WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD SOME BAT HOUSES SO WE CAN DRAW MORE BATS TO THE AREA WE LIVE CLOSE TO THE RIVER SO WE HAVE MISQUITOS BAD!!!

[SpyderLady]

That is pretty cool, owl. I use to see and hear them when I use to go to Pickwick. Its pretty scary sounding at night when its so dark and quiet tho. Then you see them swoop in getting something from the ground. Sometimes they looked huge!

[Owl]

YEAH I KNOW ABOUT THEM SWOOPING DOWN AND GETTING LITTLE ANIMALS WE USE TO HAVE A LITTLE BLACK CAT THAT I AM SURE A OWL GOT NOW OUR BIG CAT WON'T GO OUTSIDE WHEN THE OWLS ARE MAKING NOISE HE GETS ALL FREAKED OUT!!