Barred Owl Nest Box Placement

The first project we have chosen is to build owl nest boxes homes for barred owls.

Barred owl nest box placement.

So don t place a nest box on a building or a bare pole. 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. Place 3 4 of wood chips in bottom of box. Locate box within 200 of water if possible.

I always place the box in a hardwood tree near some hemlocks. Add a couple of inches of wood chips or dry leaves. If the box is mounted on a pole use a baffle to prevent cats raccoons and other predators from reaching it. Barred owls prefer to nest in lowland mature forest areas.

As with many owl species their greatest challenge is finding adequate nesting habitat. Barred owls are widely found throughout the continental united states and canada. 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.

They are well adapted to living in a wide variety of climates and biomes. Barred owl nest box placement nest boxes for barred owls must be placed within the dense forest not on the edge. Speak to the barred owls. Mount so that no branches or leaves obscure the entrance hole.

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. Turn the box 180 degrees and attach the back side the same way you attached the front side. If it is not right pull the sides apart and redo the step. Barred owls make distinctive calls.

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. You should take care to hang the nest box within 300 feet of a water source pond stream lake or river. Inside the woods the direction the barred owl house faces doesn t matter as much. Nesting platforms can also be placed in barns steeples or silos if the owls will be able to access them easily.

The house also should be at least 15 feet off the ground. Place a barn owl nest box at least 15 20 feet high but be sure the opening is shaded from the sun and wind. Shaded areas in sparse woods streamside forests farmland suburban backyards and city parks. Otherwise you will have problems later.