Notes

Putting Up a Little Owl Box
In our modified landscape where large tree cavities are increasingly scarce, putting up a little owl box offers the opportunity for these cavity nesting birds to find an alternative home. It is important to remember that these nest boxes are only a supplement to natural habitat and should be placed in an appropriate location. Ideally in woodland edges or woodland parks, but they can also be sited on the edge of gardens where there is plenty of open space for them to hunt.

Little Owls breed in April and May so it is important to put up the box in winter, well before the breeding season. Our little owl box has been designed to encourage this species whilst excluding unwanted visitors such as Stone Martens, Woodpeckers and Robins. The box has a rear entryway vestibule to help deter these intruders and internal baffles to help prevent the entrance hole becoming blocked by debris such as rodent droppings. It is made from 12mm tanalised ply and held together with 40mm rust-proof screws. It is treated with green weather-proof paint for longevity and a degree of protection against inclement weather.

The design of this nesting box is based on one that has proved successful in Lincolnshire where it was introduced to encourage the breeding of little owls in farm buildings and "crew yards". The small size of the entrance hole, narrow tunnel and dark nesting chamber are all factors that make it attractive to little owls. The access door allows easy cleaning out and the depth of the nesting chamber is also designed to help prevent young owlets from falling out prematurely. The owl box is lightweight and has been fitted with a camera clip so that it can be monitored during the breeding season.

A little owl box should be located in an elevated position to avoid ground predators such as foxes and weasels but not too high to attract Peregrine Falcons. It should be positioned where it can be easily accessed by the occupants of the box for maintenance and cleaning out (at least twice a year) to reduce the risk of young owlets being predated. It should be sheltered and not exposed to wind or rain, which can wet the interior contents and cause mould to form. If a perch is added it should be on the inside of the nesting box, but not directly below the entrance as this could act as a foothold for intruders.

In our landscape where there is an ever increasing demand for land to be used for cultivation, providing a little owl box in suitable locations can be a very valuable contribution to preserving the population of this elusive bird. Xưởng Gia Công Yến Hũ Chưng Sẵn Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa have also found that a box can be very popular with local residents and children, who like nothing better than seeing a pair of owls hunting in their back garden or park. These boxes are made from slow-seasoned FSC certified timber and sprayed with a water-based non-toxic preservative to provide a durable, long-lasting product.
Read More: https://dxnest.com/xuong-gia-cong-yen-hu-nha-trang/