Owl Boxes

kbrew · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 358 Location: Midlothian,TEXAS

I was thinking of building an Owl nesting box for a wooded area in our backyard. I can hear Great Horned owl calls at night on occation, but I've not seen one yet.

Have any of you had success getting owls to reside in one of these boxes?

Mikey · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 46 Location: Grand Prairie,TEXAS

I know this was posted a while back. We can hear them here, too. I have seen them at night behind our fence. We have seen them dive out of the trees to catch prey on the ground. One time we saw one fly back up into a tree with a small snake in its mouth.

When I was younger, we came home one night and saw one perched on top of our swingset!!! Really amazing creatures. I don't know about the box idea. Maybe a swingset is better!!!! Anyone have any input???

kbrew · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 358 Location: Midlothian,TEXAS

I heard my first Screech Owl several months ago. It was a sound I'd never heard before so I got online to hear their call. No doubt about it, it was a screech owl.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1037 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

what site did you go to, to listen?

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1037 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

oh, and are there many owls around the white rock lake area? If so, what kind?

kbrew · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 358 Location: Midlothian,TEXAS

It was owlpages.com

Tricky Grama · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 8:11 am Post subject: owls

kbrew-
I'm still waiting for an answer to your april question about owl boxes-did anyone tell you how to build or buy one? We have an owl on our 20 ac & crows chase it away regularly so I'm wondering if he had a 'box' to live in if it would be better for him.
Patty

kbrew · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 358 Location: Midlothian,TEXAS

Hey, Tricky. I found some info online on how to build them. I printed the info and I have them around here somewhere. It's pretty simple, but you do need to get them up pretty high.

I think I found it from a link at owlpages.com

Tricky Grama · Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: owl boxes

Kbrew-
Thanks so much. I'll take a look.
Patty

Birdzilla · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 139 Location: mckinney,TEXAS

Owls in the White Rock Lake area, and most of North Texas include Screech, Great-Horned and Barred, plus maybe a Barn Owl.

The Barred Owl has a great call.

Screech Owl, Barn Owl and Barred Owls will use nest boxes, but I do not think Great-horned Owls regularly use them.

A good trip in the North Texas area is a visit to the Heard Wildlife Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney. They use nest boxes for owls, bluebirds, Hooded Merganser, Prothonotary Warlbers and maybe owls also.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1037 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I sure will. I'll be there for the native texas plant sale anyway in April.

mudpie · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I spotted two eastern screech owls in my backyard and decided to build a nest box. I'm a few miles from White Rock Lake. I went here for plans: http://magazine.audubon.org/backyard/backyard0201.htm and built a beautiful house....I even covered the outside with strips of pecan bark from a downed tree. I saw them in it shortly thereafter, but now there are two black birds living there. I researched it and spoke with someone at Wild Birds Unlimited who reassured me that if those owls want that box they WILL take it back. The more I look the more I see many really great natural nest sites in the local trees that look more attractive so who knows. (pun intended)

Happy birding