Barred Owl Nest Box Placement

Shaded areas in sparse woods streamside forests farmland suburban backyards and city parks.

Barred owl nest box placement.

Speak to the barred owls. Barred owl nest box placement nest boxes for barred owls must be placed within the dense forest not on the edge. I always place the box in a hardwood tree near some hemlocks. The house also should be at least 15 feet off the ground.

Mount so that no branches or leaves obscure the entrance hole. Locate box within 200 of water if possible. Place a barn owl nest box at least 15 20 feet high but be sure the opening is shaded from the sun and wind. So don t place a nest box on a building or a bare pole.

Place 3 4 of wood chips in bottom of box. Barred owls make distinctive calls. 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. 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.

Scatter untreated wood chips on the floor of the owl box. Place the box 10 to 15 feet up in a tree. You should take care to hang the nest box within 300 feet of a water source pond stream lake or river. 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 hardwoods have fewer branches and are easier to access with a ladder or climbing. If the box is mounted on a pole use a baffle to prevent cats raccoons and other predators from reaching it. Avoid facing the nest box north. 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.

Barred owls prefer to nest in lowland mature forest areas. 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. Have someone help you push the sides together so. Add a couple of inches of wood chips or dry leaves.

If it is not right pull the sides apart and redo the step. 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. Nesting platforms can also be placed in barns steeples or silos if the owls will be able to access them easily.

Turn the box 180 degrees and attach the back side the same way you attached the front side.