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  1. #1
    Machine Gunner Martinjmpr's Avatar
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    May 2014
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hummer View Post
    Hey, that's great! It looks like the box is over a covered walkway, maybe 6 ft. from the ground? The nesting period for Screech-Owls in CO can vary from mid-April to mid-June, so your bird is only winter roosting for now. They tend to move around in winter so it may or may not nest there. If your bird is still there since Christmas, that's a good sign. The local food resources, habitat, mate availability and minimal disturbance are key to whether it will remain to nest. If a pair nests there, surviving birds often re-nest in the same location.
    It's under the eave of our 2 story house, even with the window in my home office so probably at least 16' off the ground. I assume higher is better to be free of predators? Our house faces south and this box is on the West facing side.

    We have seven Screech-Owl nest boxes on our farm and usually get a winter roosting bird in one or more boxes. We have pretty good habitat but in 30+ years have only had two Screech-Owl nests, both successful. Competition from Great Horned and Long-eared Owls may be a factor as both will predate the small owls. We've had many more nests in the boxes by American Kestrels, almost every year. I doubt you will ever get a kestrel in that box location so flickers may be your best bird. Kestrels are very sensitive to human disturbance. Non-native Starlings and House Sparrows will be a problem. I always remove their nests once they lay eggs.

    You might get lucky by putting up another box or two on the house or a nearby tree, facing east is best for Screech-Owls. Enjoy your winter roosting bird while you can.

    Our east facing side is completely smooth (no gables or windows) so plenty of room for a box over there and the wife asked me to build another box for her, probably this weekend.

    Thanks for the tips!
    Martin

    If you love your freedom, thank a veteran. If you love to party, thank the Beastie Boys. They fought for that right.

  2. #2
    Grand Master Know It All Hummer's Avatar
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    May 2013
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    North of Ward in Subaru County
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    Quote Originally Posted by Martinjmpr View Post
    It's under the eave of our 2 story house, even with the window in my home office so probably at least 16' off the ground. I assume higher is better to be free of predators? Our house faces south and this box is on the West facing side.


    Our east facing side is completely smooth (no gables or windows) so plenty of room for a box over there and the wife asked me to build another box for her, probably this weekend.

    Thanks for the tips!

    East facing isn't necessary but preferable according to a friend who is an owl expert. One of my Screech-Owl nests was in a shady west facing box in a cottonwood. Sixteen feet up is more attractive to the birds due to predators. It also makes the box more attractive to kestrels and flickers.

    A few suggestions on the new box from looking at your existing one. Make the box larger, like 9.5 x 9.5 x 20 inches deep. A larger box allows for a larger clutch and the birds especially like the extra depth. Keep the entrance hole up near the top like mine above and as you have on your box.

    Extend the back board about 3 inches above and below the box to include space for anchor screws. It doesn't need to be wider but a bottom rest cleat to span from stud to stud is fine.

    Extend the top 3-4 inches over the front to protect the entrance hole from rain and sun. It also may protect from a Sharp-shinned Hawk reaching from the roof to a bird at the entrance. Same with the additional front hole cover board like you have on your existing box. But I'd leave the cover board natural rough cedar even if you paint the rest of the box to match your siding.

    On the front board inside the box, nail or screw a couple cleats across and below the hole so the young can climb to the entrance hole. Something like 1/2 inch square and 4 inches across, about 3 inches apart vertically.

    Good luck and be careful on the ladder.

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