NFR Owl House help

Non-fishing related
K

kmudgn

Life of the Party
About 3 years ago I built a Bared Owl House and put it up in a tree on my property. I used plans found on the internet and placed it on a tree according to the information. However, no owls. I hear Barred Owls in the neighborhood and have heard newly hatched owlets in the woods near my place. I am looking for some suggestions regarding what else I can do (if anything) to get the birds to at least take a look at the box.

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Are there dead limbs/perches near to the nest box? Is there water close by? Since they are natural-cavity nesters, I wonder if a round or oval entry hole would be more appealing to them?
 
kmudgn said:
About 3 years ago I built a Bared Owl House and put it up in a tree on my property. I used plans found on the internet and placed it on a tree according to the information. However, no owls. I hear Barred Owls in the neighborhood and have heard newly hatched owlets in the woods near my place. I am looking for some suggestions regarding what else I can do (if anything) to get the birds to at least take a look at the box.

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When I was in the ag industry vineyard managers would put owl houses in the vineyards to eat gophers. I remember them telling me the boxes had to face a certain direction so afternoon sun could not bother them and more important was the hole size. They were trying to attract Barn owls but if the hole was to big the Great Horned owls could get to them and kill the Barn owl. You might do a little research and I hope this helps.
 
Dang that is a big house. I never knew they were so big. I read that it should have wood chips not sawdust in the bottom. I wonder if the paint has a leftover odor that makes it unappealing to them.
 
Mark Yoshida said:
Dang that is a big house. I never knew they were so big. I read that it should have wood chips not sawdust in the bottom. I wonder if the paint has a leftover odor that makes it unappealing to them.
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They are good size. One night me and the boy heard a loud screech/scream outside. Went out to see what’s up. Walked under some me redwood branches and pointed the flash light upward. Imagine see a large bird with piercing eyes staring down at you less than 10ft above your head. I think I may have said OH SH*T… 😳
 
Thinking like Mark it might be the paint, some of my bird boxes are less popular when painted. Alternatively having never seen an Owl nest, but knowing they are out there, would then assume it needs to be hard(er) to see and find. At least where I live the crows are relentless in outing any owl they see in daytime. The crows are a solid daytime neighborhood watch, at the expense of most other birds though....
 
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