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Owl home questions

6 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Post all the hints you can as I am only starting to learn about owls and the owl homes. I considered looking for a DIY owl house plan for the specific species but then realized I have no idea what types of owls are in my area (west of Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport). No idea of online sources with this info either. Hmmm, you know what? Since I am a klutz, I decided to forget about doing the homes from scratch. The Fire Department will be grateful. ;o)) Ha!

Something confusing though... How big are these birds that I tend to see in pictures? They look huge. But the entrance holes in owl homes look tiny (just a few inches) compared to the size of the owls (I have never seen an adult one up close; only owl decoys at Lowe's), which makes me wonder how big are they; can they get in there?

I will probably end up buying the owl home locally or online. I am considering cedar per online comments elsewhere but please chime in. Should I put several in the property? 1/2 acre? How far apart is enough? Which house styles are easy to place/hang/etc in trees or other places? I am a klutz so putting the house somewhere also has to be easier than operating a flashlight! ;o))

TIA! And stay cool and safe!

PS - this website https://birdfeederhub.com/owls-in-texas/ suggested that these owls may be present in my general north central location: Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech Owl. How big of an entry hole would be needed by a house for the largest of these birds (25" for the GHO)

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Comments (4)

gawdinfever Z6
5 years ago
What type of house you get, depends on what type of owl you want to attract. Also; Have you ever seen or heard them around your place? What is your area like? If you read up on the ones in your area, they each are attracted to different things, somewhat.

We have two kinds predominantly around my residence. The GHO and the barred. The barred are more skittish, and I suppose b/c the GHO will eat them! We actually built a nest in hopes of attracting the GHO to nest in our yard, since they frequent so often and I love them so much! Just put it up about a week ago.

My area seems to suit GHO's because we are pretty thick with trees, yet open fields as well. I also started keeping a brush pile to attract the field mice they love. It's nowhere near my house! lol

This year we a boon of rabbits in the area till recently when the GHO's started coming around again. I guess my plants are safer these days. The rabbits were eating/chewing on everything!

The barred owls used to nest on one of my neighbors front porch! They purposely quit using the front door so as not to disturb them! I just love owls!

gawdinfever
luis_pr
Original Author
5 years ago
I think I have heard them at night here but not lately. I used to live about 30-45mins away in an apartment complex where I once saw one at night calling out. I live in a 70s neighborhood with probably enough trees for them (but not thick as yours sounds) and a nearby creek and city parks. Just what size birds are they? Can they gain access to the inside of the owl homes through these 2-3" holes? The owl I saw once was too far to gauge its size.
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Just to jump in here ... According to the Birds or North America (from the Cornell lab or ornithology and the american Ornithologists union)... The barred owl's food habits are "Considered a seminocturnal to nocturnal hunter, although diurnal hunting observed. Hunts in a sit-and-wait fashion from an elevated perch scanning area for prey. Acute vision and hearing apparently used to locate prey. Takats (1996) observed a female drop from a perch to capture a vole on the forest floor, as well as make several passes in attempt to capture a red squirrel (Tamiasciuris hudsonicus) in a tree during the day. Known to perch over water and drop to capture fish (Smith et al. 1983). Observed wading in shallow water to capture fish and crayfish (M. Gibson pers. comm.). Reported to hunt from the ground, running and pouncing on prey such as amphibians (Dunstan and Sample 1972, Elderkin 1987, KMM). In northern regions, likely plunges beneath the snow to capture small mammals in winter (Nero 1993). Prey is either swallowed whole (in the case of smaller items) or the head is consumed first, then body (larger prey). Pellets with skull of a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) found on or near remainder of grouse carcass, indicating that the owl first consumed the head and later returned to feed, first regurgitating a pellet (KMM). Hunting activity highest immediately following sunset (Elderkin 1987)."
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
Look here...

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/birding/birdhouses/

tj
djacob Z6a SE WI
5 years ago
Interesting that the link above doesn’t show the GHO (unless I missed it). I am thinking that owls may be like cat in this respect. The hole only needs to be as the cats/owls head and the rest of the body will fit. Just a guess.

debra

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