Build an Owl Nest Box
BARRED OWL
Check out instructions from the Illinois Raptor Center on building a Barred Owl nest box.
Check out instructions from the Illinois Raptor Center on building a Barred Owl nest box.
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GREAT GRAY OWL
View photos of this and other Great Gray Owl nesting platforms in use on our Facebook page. 
Great Gray Owl Nest Platform - a basic design by Roar Solheim, Norway
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LONG-EARED OWL
Long-eared Owl nest basket use in Israel - Dr. Motti Charter |
Burrowing Owl (c) Ashley Schmal
BURROWING OWL
Click here for everything you could ever want to know about artificial nest burrows for Burrowing Owls.
Click here for everything you could ever want to know about artificial nest burrows for Burrowing Owls.
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EASTERN SCREECH-OWL
We highly recommend "The Screech Owl Companion" book for anyone who wants to put up a screech-owl nest box. It has a designs for a squirrel-resistant box, information about placement, installation, using multiple boxes, nest cams, dealing with wasps/bees, what to expect from screech-owls in your box and more. These plans were developed by Fred Gelbach, who studied this species more than anyone else. They are featured the Audubon Birdhouse Book. |
AMERICAN BARN OWL
American Barn Owls are not the same species as the barn owl in Europe. It is much larger, so you cannot use a European design for American Barn Owls. There are all kinds of designs for the American Barn Owl to choose from, and researchers have indicated that BIGGER is BETTER for the owls (less mortality of young owls.) Interior dividers are not necessary in large boxes. Hole diameter needs to be a minimum of 5.5" (at least for northern birds), so beware that box designs that specify smaller holes will not allow larger northern owls to enter (although they may be fine for smaller owls in the southern US.) Researchers have noted that owls may also have a preference for wood boxes over commercially available plastic boxes, even though plastic boxes are definitely used.
Andy Brown of the Maryland Farmland Raptor Program developed plans. Click here to find the plan downloads and videos.
American Barn Owls are not the same species as the barn owl in Europe. It is much larger, so you cannot use a European design for American Barn Owls. There are all kinds of designs for the American Barn Owl to choose from, and researchers have indicated that BIGGER is BETTER for the owls (less mortality of young owls.) Interior dividers are not necessary in large boxes. Hole diameter needs to be a minimum of 5.5" (at least for northern birds), so beware that box designs that specify smaller holes will not allow larger northern owls to enter (although they may be fine for smaller owls in the southern US.) Researchers have noted that owls may also have a preference for wood boxes over commercially available plastic boxes, even though plastic boxes are definitely used.
Andy Brown of the Maryland Farmland Raptor Program developed plans. Click here to find the plan downloads and videos.
