Project Owl House

Creating An “Owl-Friendly” Habitat….

It is very difficult to 'attract' owls to your garden. You can, however, provide an owl-friendly environment that might increase the likelihood of wild owls choosing to live nearby. The availability of food and suitable nesting sites determine whether owls occupy an area. By using bird-friendly pesticides to control the insects in your gardens and also by being careful in the manner which we utilize rodenticides, we can try and ensure a safe food supply. Secondly we can provide owls with suitable nesting sites in the form of artificial nest boxes. These boxes become substitutes for natural nest sites that are often lost when environments are cultivated.

Owl houses vary according to the specific preferences of the indigenous owl species. Before erecting an owl house, it is wise to identify which owl species already reside in your area, or find out which owls are likely to be in your area. The distribution of a species can be obtained from most South African bird books. Look not only at the distribution maps but also the habitat requirements of each owl. Attached, for your reference, you will also find a summary of nesting requirements for each of the 12 indigenous owl species.

Where To Erect Your Owl House…………….

Generally find a quiet secluded place to erect your owl box. Owls are resolutely faithful to lonely places, which is why their habits have been so often shrouded in mystery. Be especially careful to avoid disturbance in the area at the onset of the breeding season. Secure the box firmly and ensure that the entrance hole does not face the direction of the prevailing winds. The box should preferably face open land and the flight path to the entrance hole should be unhindered. Position a platform or branch  at the base of the box or entrance hole so that branching youngsters can clamber out without  falling to the ground.

Click Here to download Project Owl House as a Adobe PDF document

Click Here to download Owl Nesting Requirements as a Adobe PDF document