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Barn Owl Box: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:OurBungalowUpwellNorfolk.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The owl box is located in the trees, just behind the yellow star 😍]] | [[Image:OurBungalowUpwellNorfolk.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The owl box is located in the trees, just behind the yellow star 😍]] | ||
===Building a Barn Owl Nesting Box=== | ===Building a Barn Owl Nesting Box=== | ||
There are many plans available on the Internet and if you are reasonable with DIY projects, you should find this fairly simple - [[Mounting your owl box | There are many plans available on the Internet and if you are reasonable with DIY projects, you should find this fairly simple - [[#Mounting your owl box|getting the box up the tree and fitted will be the challenge!]] | ||
We have built two Barn Owl Boxes, one based on [https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/owl-boxes-for-trees/ the plan found on the Barn Owl Trust website]; you can [https://www.cookipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/d/d7/Plan_for_building_a_barn_owl_tree_nesting_box.jpg download the hi-resolution plan here], the second [[Barn Owl Box]] was based on a simpler generic plan, which does not include the essential landing and exercise platform, [https://www.cookipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/d/da/Very_Simple_Easy_To_Build_Owl_Box.jpg download the hi-resolution plan here]. | We have built two Barn Owl Boxes, one based on [https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/owl-boxes-for-trees/ the plan found on the Barn Owl Trust website]; you can [https://www.cookipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/d/d7/Plan_for_building_a_barn_owl_tree_nesting_box.jpg download the hi-resolution plan here], the second [[Barn Owl Box]] was based on a simpler generic plan, which does not include the essential landing and exercise platform, [https://www.cookipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/d/da/Very_Simple_Easy_To_Build_Owl_Box.jpg download the hi-resolution plan here]. | ||
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A benefit of our accidental tilt, ''see pictures below'' is that it enables the owls to grip the inside of the box and stand and look out of the entry hole. Our camera system shows they do this for hours on end, day and night. It wouldn't take much to modify your box to do this; a few slats inside the box under the entry hole, or maybe even a layer of chicken wire would be enough. The benefits are enormous; both for the owls looking out and for us to be able to see the box is occupied, even from a distance. | A benefit of our accidental tilt, ''see pictures below'' is that it enables the owls to grip the inside of the box and stand and look out of the entry hole. Our camera system shows they do this for hours on end, day and night. It wouldn't take much to modify your box to do this; a few slats inside the box under the entry hole, or maybe even a layer of chicken wire would be enough. The benefits are enormous; both for the owls looking out and for us to be able to see the box is occupied, even from a distance. | ||
Considered wisdom is to have a removable panel to allow for cleaning; however for many reasons I would not worry with this. Firstly our box has been occupied continually from the time we first [[discovered that owls were nesting in our box]]. Access to the box is exceedingly difficult as it's above a 30 year old bramble patch and a small dyke and due to the movement of the box, I would not be happy resting a ladder against it, even though this was built into the design. I'm also not the least bit comfortable 6 metres up a ladder trying to unscrew panels on the front of the box. If you think you will be cleaning out your box, I would position a hatch on the side of the box, then you can just rest your ladder on the tree and not have to get to the front of the box. | Considered wisdom is to have a removable panel to allow for cleaning; however for many reasons I would not worry with this. Firstly our box has been occupied continually from the time we first [[#How we discovered we had barn owls!|discovered that owls were nesting in our box]]. Access to the box is exceedingly difficult as it's above a 30 year old bramble patch and a small dyke and due to the movement of the box, I would not be happy resting a ladder against it, even though this was built into the design. I'm also not the least bit comfortable 6 metres up a ladder trying to unscrew panels on the front of the box. If you think you will be cleaning out your box, I would position a hatch on the side of the box, then you can just rest your ladder on the tree and not have to get to the front of the box. | ||
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=5> | <gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=5> | ||
Image:Plan for building a barn owl tree nesting box.jpg| Plan for building a barn owl tree nesting box<br>''click image to access larger hi-res versions'' | Image:Plan for building a barn owl tree nesting box.jpg| Plan for building a barn owl tree nesting box<br>''click image to access larger hi-res versions'' | ||