How Many Barn Owl Boxes?
For properties with acreage, 4-6 boxes over 50 acres is a good start. There are enough nest boxes when 20% – 30% are not occupied, allowing room for natural fluctuation related to rodent population. Empty boxes allows for the return of juveniles to the area to have a place to nest the following year. Do not place the boxes above areas where vehicles or equipment is stored as there can be a mess generated under the box once owls move in. If boxes are placed on poles, the poles should be within 100 yards of a large tree so that the young have a nearby by place to fly to when they fledge (leave the nest). Please let us know if your box becomes occupied as we are collecting data for research on owls. How to tell it is occupied (barn owl box): the drainage holes on the bottom become plugged up with nesting material (barn owl pellets), seeing “white wash” on the ground (owl droppings that look like splashes of white paint), hearing screeching, screaming sounds in the area at night, scratch m
