If you’re a bird-lover looking to attract owls to your backyard, build a birdhouse for them. Owls are majestic birds that can be seen soaring through the sky in many parts of the world and having one grace your yard with its presence can be an amazing experience. But before you set up shop for your new feathered friend, it’s important to know exactly what kind of birdhouse will best suit their needs. In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything you need to consider when building a birdhouse for owls – from size and material selection to location and more. So if you’re ready to get started on your owl-friendly abode, let’s dive right in!
Will Owls Live In A Birdhouse?
Yes, owls will live in birdhouses. Birdhouses are suitable for owls if they are built for their specific size and needs. The birdhouse should have an entrance large enough for the owl to enter, as well as a secure roof, and sides that can provide insulation during extreme weather conditions. The ideal birdhouse should also be made of sturdy materials such as wood or metal, should be mounted at least 10 feet off the ground in order to deter predators, and should have drainage holes in the bottom to prevent water from collecting inside.
What Kind Of Birdhouse Do Owls Like?
There are several things to consider when building an owl house, such as the size of the opening and the type of material used. The following guidelines will help you build a safe and functional owl house:
- The entrance hole for owls should be at least 4 inches in diameter. The inside floor area should be 12×12 inches.
- Owls prefer wood materials over other types of roosting sites like metal or plastic. Cedar is a good choice because it is durable and weather resistant. You can also use rough-cut lumber so that the owls have something to grip onto when they enter or exit their homes.
- Make sure that there are no sharp edges on any part of the owl house, including nails, sticking out or jagged pieces of wood. Owls have very sensitive feet and can easily hurt themselves if they come into contact with anything sharp.
Do Owls Use Nesting Boxes?
Some owl species will nest in boxes, but it is generally not a common behavior. There are a few reasons for this:
- Owls typically prefer to nest in cavities high up off the ground, and nesting boxes are usually lower to the ground.
- Nesting boxes also tend to be smaller than many owls’ preferred cavity size. Great horned owls, for example, need a nesting cavity that’s at least 15 inches wide and deep (the average dimensions of most commercially available nesting boxes fall well short of these requirements).
- Many owl species like to line their nests with soft materials such as leaves or feathers, which wouldn’t be possible in a hard plastic or metal box.
For these reasons, if you’re interested in attracting owls to your property, it’s probably best to focus on creating habitat features that provide natural cavities rather than trying to entice them into using manmade ones unless you are going to build a large nesting box out of wood.
How Do You Attract And Befriend Owls?
Owls are unique and majestic creatures that have long been revered by cultures around the world. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in these fascinating birds, and people are increasingly wanting to attract them to their properties. While owls will naturally gravitate toward areas with an abundance of prey, there are a few things you can do to make your yard more appealing to these nocturnal hunters. Here are some tips on how to attract and befriend owls:
- Provide perching spots: Owls like to perch in high places so they can survey their surroundings for potential prey. To give them somewhere ideal to perch, consider putting up a platform or nest box near the edge of your property where trees or other tall structures provide additional support.
- Offer nesting materials: In the springtime when owls are looking for mates and preparing for nesting season, providing them with materials such as leaves, twigs, mosses, and feathers will help entice them to stay in your area. You can also put out small pieces of cloth or fur if you find some while cleaning out your garage – just be sure it’s nothing alive!
- Create a brush pile: An easy way to convert your yard into an owl habitat is simply by creating piles of dead branches (called “snags”), which offer perfect roosting sites for many species of owls year-round. If you have room on your property, try creating a brush pile by collecting fallen branches, sticks and other dead woody material. Place the snags in an area of your yard that is out-of-the-way, such as in a corner or near some trees, so that it blends into the natural landscape. Make sure you create several levels of branches for different species of owls to roost on. This will also provide great cover for many types of wildlife like rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels.
Benefits Of Owls In Your Yard
Owls are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Though they are often associated with darkness and mystery, owls can be beneficial to have around your yard. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Owls help keep rodent populations under control. If you have a problem with mice or rats scurrying around your property, an owl may be able to help solve it. These predators typically go after small mammals like rodents, so having one present could mean fewer pests for you to deal with. Additionally, since owls eat their prey whole (including bones), there’s no need for you to worry about disposing of any remains yourself – the owl will take care of that!
- Owls can act as natural alarm systems. Not only do these animals hoot loudly when intruders enter their territory, but their very presence is enough to deter would-be burglars and trespassers. So if security is a concern of yours, an owl might offer some much-needed peace of mind. Just be sure not to accidentally attract other unwanted wildlife (like skunks) while trying to entice an owl!
- You might get to see some amazing bird behavior up close. While observing owls in your backyard probably won’t rival seeing them in the wild, it still offers opportunities for great birdwatching. Perhaps you’ll witness courtship rituals, nesting behaviors, or even territorial disputes between different species.
Do Owls Eat From Bird Feeders?
Owls are apex predators, meaning they sit at the top of the food chain. As such, they help to regulate prey populations and keep ecosystems in balance. In general, owls eat whatever they can catch and kill. This includes small mammals like rodents and rabbits, as well as birds up to the size of geese.
While most people think of owls as forest dwellers, some species live in open habitats like grasslands or tundra. These areas don’t have many trees for perching or nesting, so Owls will often use man-made structures like power lines or buildings instead. Some even take advantage of bird feeders!
It’s not uncommon for Great Horned Owls, Northern Saw-Whet Owls, and Eastern Screech-Owls to hunt around backyard bird feeders. If you find an owl perched near your feeder outside regular feeding hours, it may be waiting to ambush its next meal!
What Should You Put Out For Owls?
There are a few things you can put out for owls:
- A perch: This can be anything from a simple tree branch to an old broom handle. Just make sure it’s stable and at least 4 feet off the ground.
- Nesting material: If you want to attract nesting owls, provide them with some materials they can use, such as strips of bark, leaves, or even cotton balls.
- Food: While most owls eat rodents like mice and voles, there are a few species that will also eat birds (including other owls), so putting out bird seed or suet may help attract those types of predators.
Birdhouses For Owls Conclusion
In conclusion, building a birdhouse for owls is an incredibly rewarding experience that can provide both you and the owl with years of joy. While there are many different types of owl houses available on the market, building your own unique birdhouse from scratch allows you to customize it to meet the specific needs of the local owl population. When done correctly, a homemade birdhouse can help support your local owl population by providing them with a safe place to breed and raise their young. So if you’re looking for a great way to make a difference in your community, consider building a birdhouse for owls.
