Once the Owl Box is found, it will be used year after year for nesting. Owls are not common backyard birds, but they can be highly desirable guests and are incredible to hear and observe when they do visit.With the right preparation, any birder can learn how to attract owls to the yard on a regular basis. Owl Boxes aim to attract the Barn Owl. There are 200 species of Owl across the world but not many ventures too close to civilization. In order for a pair of Barn Owls to survive and breed successfully they need in the region of 120 acres of permanent, rough, tussocky grassland over which they can hunt and catch their main prey item of the Short-tailed Vole. If you’d like to get a couple barn owls on your San Diego property, I’ll show you how. They prefer to use nest boxes placed about 12 feet off the ground in dark, secluded areas. To best attract barn owls, these areas should be near grasslands, croplands and other open habitats. Owl boxes are generally designed to attract either a Spotted-Eagle Owl or a Barn Owl. However this is not a reason to give up on attracting Owls to your yard, there are plenty that specializes in hunting in residential and suburban areas. A nesting owl is a killing machine, storing dozens of dead rodents in preparation for incubating the eggs. Not only are they fun, barn owls are some of the best (and most natural) forms of rodent control available. How to Install Barn Owl Boxes for Success in Controlling Rodents The History of Using Barn Owls for Natural Rodent Control. They also need a suitable nest site e.g. How to Attract Owls. Wish to attract Barn Owls to their area. Think they have suitable habitats for Barn Owls. The Barn Owl prefers a closed box with just a small opening entry, while the Spotted Eagle-Owl prefers … Some Owls you’re likely to attract in your back yard are: Barn owl; Barred owl; Eastern screech-owl Suitable habitat is any open space such as; golf courses, fields, meadows, vacant lots, cemeteries, canyons, hillsides, or any other open space that could contain mice and other small rodents. Some Owls you’re likely to attract in your back yard are: Barn owl; Barred owl; Eastern screech-owl Traditionally invited into barns, today’s owls rely on natural crevices and man-made boxes to find a place to hatch and rear young. Barn owls don’t build their own nests, however; they look for sheltered places to roost and nest. You don't need to have a shed and a nest box for nesting, but you can if you want to attract multiple barn owl families. Barn owls will use well-built nest boxes near adequate food sources. Barn Owls inhabit all continents, except for Antarctica, and are pretty commonly found in the United States. Make sure you have suitable habitat within 1 – 2 miles of your home before installing your nest box. In order for a pair of Barn Owls to survive and breed successfully they need in the region of 120 acres of permanent, rough, tussocky grassland over which they can hunt and catch their main prey item of the Short-tailed Vole. Where prey is abundant, barn owls will nest close to other birds. O ther species more commonly observed are the great horned owl, the barred owl, the short-eared owl, the eastern screech owl and the long-eared owl. Barn owl boxes are built for types of birds that the owl falls under, which are predatory. Barn Owls prefer open hunting spaces such as fields, meadows and grasslands. Owls are birds of prey that eat rodents and inhabit many types of ecosystems. Barn owls have now been used for decades by U.S. vintners, orchardists, and property owners as a means of natural rodent control. a seldom-used or undisturbed barn or building or hollow isolated tree. Make sure you bring a ladder outside because the box will need to be quite high. However this is not a reason to give up on attracting Owls to your yard, there are plenty that specializes in hunting in residential and suburban areas. Put a bird box on a pole, about 2 and a half metres off the ground. There are 200 species of Owl across the world but not many ventures too close to civilization. As a result, many people look to owls as a natural option in reducing rodent populations. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe and secure location where the owls can nest. Attracting Barn Owls to Your Property T he barn owl (Tyto alba) is perhaps the rarest of six owl species that are year-round residents in Missouri. California has led this effort, with thousands of nest boxes erected on farm land. Only the species already occurring in your area may be attracted by the box. Many owls, including great horned owls and screen owls, usually nest in trees on the margins of grassy or woodland areas.