Owl box info?

[David Hicks]

Hi Kay.  You’ve got the orientation issue about right re: owls.  Suggest you do research on what type of owls are in your area and select your box accordingly.  I have large white barn owls in Lake County and have had 3 families over about 15 years with the box.  If your owls are like mine and they have more that one egg the first hatched will likely throw the smaller chicks out of the nest, so be prepared for that.  You’re only going to need one boxmand if possible you should place in between any woods or tree area on or near your property but closer to the wooded area.  Most N Cal owls hunt at night and regularly hang out in wooded areas.  Good luck  David Hicks

[Kay Schmaier]

Thanks for sharing your experience, David!  We have barn owls here but that’s all I know so far about them.  I’m trying to figure out how far the owl box needs to be from the vineyard for any potential nesters to be interested in hunting in the vineyard.  I’ve heard they don’t hunt immediately near the box but not sure what perimeter they’d want.