The Owl Pages Forum

pcadra · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 40

Thank's for that info I hadn't even thought about racoons I only have 1 Barred owl nest box up,but I'll be sure to put flashing around tree now.Have you had Barred nest in one of your boxes yet?

owlboy · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 1:54 am Post subject:

You only have to worry about raccoons when the female lays her eggs. At that point you need to put up the flashing. Once the owlets get ready to branch, then you need to remove the flashing.

We had a nesting pair, but we think they were killed by a GHO. It is important to get the box within 200 feet of water. It should be in the woods, but have a large enough opening in the branches to fly to the opening easily. You also need lots of prey in the area. We have an idea location for our boxes.
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pik-n-fin · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 20

So, do I need to be concerned about raccoons and a screech owl box? I'm wondering if the raccoons can reach in a hole that's only a 3" circumference? I like the idea of the plastic flashing and I think I'll add that.

pcadra · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 40

I haven't had any raccoons get into my boxes yet.I drill entrance hole towards the top of box though.I also put little strips of wood on inside so owlets can climb up to opening.

weezilgirl · Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 11 Location: oklahoma

I am so pleased to see that you're using the plastic around the boxes. That is a new and useful idea for me.

A friend gave me a screech owl box for Christmas three years ago and my neighbor got drunk and climbed my fence and cut my trees down. Needless to say, my nest box was destroyed.

I'm moving back to my ranch in Oklahoma and there are tons of screech owls there. I think I'll try a barred owl box also.
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owlboy · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject:

Oklahoma is on the border of where Barred Owls exist. I would try for screech owls instead. Unless you know that Barred Owls are around.
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Always looking for Owls in Greene County NY

owloasis · Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 1

hello, Just started a blog about my trials with squirrel resistant box.
couldn't help but notice the parallel ideas in this thread, with the vinyl (plastic) covering.
I did take the screech owl box design a bit further by adding a 45 degree angle to the roof. this makes a taller box (by 10 inches)
http://owloasis.wordpress.com/about-2/
so if you have a compound sliding miter saw or are adept at a hand circular saw, its not that much more work.

so far so good with 0 squirrel issues with correct (can't jump to front) placement. the longest test box has been up ~ a year, most went up fall 09
and currently one screech owl nest, this is in massachusetts and the first egg was laid feb. 19th. very early for the NE.

sun-sense · Joined: 29 Apr 2010 Posts: 3