Barred Owl Nesting Box – When To Put It Out

Q: When should I put out a barred owl nesting box I made? Now? Wait a few more weeks?

A: Better get it done now. Owl love is in the air and the breeding season begins in January. I hope you have a tall ladder. The most attractive nests are located 20-50 feet high. A good site would be near water and low brush where rodents might hide. The female lays two to four eggs that she incubates for 28-33 days. The male feeds the incubating female. The young fledge around 42 days after hatching.

For folks inspired by your mission but behind on building an owl nesting box, Audubon magazine has a great article about screech owls and their nesting needs at bit.ly/GAscreech. These diminutive birds love the suburbs, where spacious lawns and open spaces are good places to hunt and backyard bird feeders offer up small-feathered prey. Their nesting season begins in February, still enough time to flex somebody’s carpenter skills.