|
Home
Owl Boxes Returning
Baby Projects & Partners |
Box Building Projects for Scouts, School, Community Groups, and Individual Volunteers Thank you for your interest in owl boxes. Owls do not build their own nests. Most owls simply use the old nests of hawks, ravens, and other birds. In Marin we have several local species that are cavity nesters: including Barn Owls, Western Screech Owls, and Saw-whet Owls. North America's smallest falcon, the American Kestrel, is also a cavity nester. These species will readily use artificial cavities in the form of nest boxes. Barn Owls are generally found in or near open fields and meadows, but sometimes nest quite close to homes in backyards or parks. Western Screech Owls are generally found in oak woodlands, especially near streams or creeks. Great Horned Owls (they are the ones that hoot!) do not use nest boxes - they take over previously constructed nests of hawks or ravens. Examples of ideal Barn Owl habitat can be seen in Nicasio and West Marin, and Petaluma - agricultural areas. Also along Highway 37 in Sonoma, and any of Marin's protected open spaces that feature oak savannahs and large open areas. Western Screech Owls might also frequent such areas, but their ideal habitat is woodlands, especially near streams. They too have been found nesting quite close to human habitations - even in attics and under eaves. A good nesting cavity is hard to find! Old and dead trees provide homes for many species of birds and should be left standing whenever possible. There are many owl nest boxes available for purchase, however we feel our design is the most beneficial for the protection of the owls for several reasons: the hole size is specific for Barn Owls and too small for Great Horned Owls to enter and prey on Barn Owls or their chicks, the box has a convenient clean-out flap, it is treated with a non-toxic, water-based stain that can extend the life of the box up to 10 years, there are no perches on our boxes - perches are helpful to predators, the Barn Owls don't need them, finally by purchasing a Hungry Owl Box you are supporting our non-profit, educational work. The decision to put up an owl box should not be made lightly, and should be based on an evaluation of whether you actually have good habitat for any of the cavity nesting owl species. PRICE LIST
The Hungry Owl Project, run by dedicated volunteers, is administered by WildCare. WildCare advocates for wildlife for a sustainable world through programs in wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax identification #51-0172331. For that reason, a small percentage (7%) of your purchase price or donation to the Hungry Owl Project will be applied to administrative expenses.
http://www.enviro-explorers.com/kestrel_web_pages/iowas_nest_box_program_page.htm.
There are responsibilities involved, especially with Barn Owl boxes. These include:
If you feel comfortable with these responsibilities, and have the right habitat for barn or screech owls, we encourage you to install an owl box to help provide homes and protection for these beautiful, and beneficial, predators. Please note that the best way to benefit from the amazing hunting prowess of Barn Owls on your local rodent and gopher populations is to install more than one box, as the owl will not hunt directly beneath its nest because this could attract the attention of predators, such as the Great Horned Owl. If feasible, we also recommend placing a three-foot wide band of metal flashing around the tree trunk, under the box, for additional protection from climbing predators, such as raccoons, cats, and bobcats. The owl boxes can also be pole-mounted, which is a bit more effort and requires the addition of a sun roof if placed away from the shade provided by trees. Owl boxes can be installed at any time of the year. The breeding season starts around February/March, but the boxes may become occupied as roosting sites at any time of year.
We are often asked: "Are you sure
the owl can fit through that small hole?" Yes, we are sure!
Hungry Owl boxes are made of sturdy untreated 1/2" plywood. They are carefully designed for the specific breeding habits of the owls, and for their protection against predators. They come complete with air holes, drainage holes, and have a trap door for easy cleaning. They are treated with water-based deck stain and will last for many years. Community volunteers, including local schools and Boy Scout troops, make all boxes. All proceeds from the sale of these boxes go back into research and the promotion of safe habitat for owls. If you would like to purchase a box, please call 415-454-4587, during business hours. It may take us several days to return your call and there may be a waiting list for the boxes as demand almost always exceeds supply! You will be notified when your box is ready for pickup, usually at a designated owl box sale at WildCare in San Rafael. Owl boxes can be installed at any time of year, but the most likely time for them to become inhabitated is over the winter months. There is no guarantee that owls will find and inhabit an owl box, and it may take one or more seasons for habitation for owls to move in. No, we cannot provide an owl with your box! You put up the box and nature does the rest. If you already have an owl box and need information on proper installation of the box (how high, where, how to clean, etc), please read this document: How to Install a Barn Owl Box (pdf format). If you would like a professional arborist to install the box for you, for a fee, please contact Jim Cairnes of Small World Tree Service at 415-455-0909 or 717-1885, or Judd Corbin at 415-595-9232 (both are Marin only). Free installation is offered by Zach Wilder, Sonoma-Marin Arborists at 415-455-TREE. The Hungry Owl Project sells boxes locally within Marin County and surrounding areas. Please note that we are not able to ship owl boxes. For anyone interested in building their own box, we can provide detailed box plans and installation instructions. Power tools are needed, including a router and table saw. We can send the plans via email (pdf), if you write us at webmaster@hungryowl.org and tell us what type of habitat you live in or near, and pledge to not use poisons to control rodents, or pesticides to control insects. Please include your mailing address with the request and let us know if you want Barn Owl, Western screech Owl or American Kestrel box plans. San Francisco peninsula residents can contact The Birder's Garden in San Carlos for purchase of Hungry Owl Project designed Barn Owl boxes. Call (650) 595-0300. To request box plans by U.S. mail, please send a check for $7.00 (to cover printing and postage), payable to "WildCare/HOP" to: HOP BOX
PLANS Be sure to include the address where the plans should be sent, as well as your phone number—in case we need to talk with you to determine if your habitat is appropriate for attracting barn or screech owls. It is critical that no poisons are being used on the property or adjacent properties. Please allow a few weeks for delivery. Box Building We are looking for volunteers to help us build boxes for bats, owls, bluebirds and kestrels! This project is perfect for middle school or high school wood shop class projects, Eagle & Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and interested indivduals. We love working with Eagle Scouts as they always do quality work. We are also looking for donations of 1/2" untreated plywood from construction sites or recycling centers. We'd love to recycle unused wood into homes for birds! You may be able to get community service credit for building boxes for our non-profit group. We also have our box building parties from time to time and volunteers are welcome. Here are some pictures from one of our action-packed and fun-filled box building extravaganzas! Special thanks to the following for building boxes for HOP: Bryan Stitt, Eagle Scout -50 barn owl boxes! View
photos of Bryan's project for HOP |
||||
|
|
We
also sell bat houses for $65 and bluebird boxes for $18. Both bats and
bluebirds provide excellent natural insect control - especially for mosquitos.
Bats require a very warm setting in order for bat boxes to succeed. Please
visit 
