Attract Owls To Your Backyard With These Tips

Owls are not common backyard birds, but they can be highly desirable guests and are amazing to hear and observe when you visit.

With proper preparation, any bird watcher can learn to attract owls to the yard on a regular basis.

Owls are some of the most beloved birds of prey, and their quiet flight, large eyes, sad squeaks, and nocturnal behavior make them magical and mysterious.

Because owls are not very active during the day, a backyard owl can coexist with other backyard birds and, as excellent hunters, can help control squirrel and rodent populations.

Smaller owls can also help control large insects and can occasionally also catch reptiles such as snakes and lizards.

Because they do not eat birdseed, these birds are also cheap to attract compared to birds with a large appetite for expensive seeds or other foods.

Depending on the local habitat, the regional ranges of the owls, and how attractive the yard is to these raptors, other owls may also become visitors to the yard.

How to attract owls

As with any bird decoy, the key to attracting owls is meeting their four basic needs: food, water, shelter, and nesting sites.

Food

Owls will not visit bird feeders, but it is possible to provide a stable source of food for these hunters.

Because owls eat rats, voles, squirrels, and similar small rodents, bird watchers who have rats are more likely to attract owls.

Leaving the grass uncut, adding a bunch of bushes, and leaving the seeds in the ground will make the garden more rat-friendly, which in turn makes the habitat more owl-friendly.

Avoid using poisons or traps to kill rats or other prey and let owls take care of the problem.

Water

Owls get most of the fluid they need in their diet from the prey they consume and are not frequent visitors to birdbaths.

In warmer climates and during the summer, however, owls may visit slightly larger and deeper birdbaths for drinking or bathing.

Providing this type of water source in a quiet, secluded area is more likely to encourage owls to visit it.

Shelter

Owls need mature, fairly dense trees with good trunks to rest during the day, preferably in a secluded, shady area.

Both coniferous and deciduous trees are suitable if they are of good size. Empty owl nests are also good alternatives to natural shelter, but providing natural spaces where owls can feel safe during the day is the best way to encourage them to perch nearby.

Nesting sites

Hollow trees are the preferred nesting sites for owls. The smaller owl species that are more common in backyards and gardens can also use large nest boxes placed 10 to 20 meters above the ground in a large tree.

Barn owls can also use abandoned buildings for nesting, and leaving a barn or shed open for bird access can provide a great place to raise a baby owl.

Nest boxes for owls should be placed in January or February, as these birds build their nests much earlier than other garden species.

Cages should be monitored to keep them free of wasps, squirrels, rodents, raccoons, or other birds or guests that may discourage owls from nesting.

Avoid this if you want to attract owls

• Do not release cage rats or other small animals with the intention of providing complimentary food to owls, and do not buy dead rats or offer other meat to tempt owls.

These types of pets do not survive outdoors and owls must hunt live prey to meet their nutritional and behavioral needs.

• Avoid frequent use of recorded owl songs that can agitate the birds and distract them from the hunting or nesting activities they need to survive.

• Many corners can also simulate excess predators in the area, which can prevent other birds from visiting them.

• Remove all types of nets from your yard at night, including football/hockey and basketball nets.

Flying owls can become entangled in these nets, causing distress, injury, and even death. Seasonal decorations, such as decorative outdoor spider webs, are another threat that must be removed to protect owls.

With patience and careful planning, it is possible to attract owls to enjoy up close in your garden.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about how to build an owl house and attract them:

Source: Norwegian Wood

Did you find this post Useful or Inspiring? Save THIS PIN to your GARDENING Board on Pinterest! 

Once again, thank you for visiting our website!

We hope you've enjoyed exploring the content we've created for you.

Give yourself the chance to learn, get inspired, and have even more fun, keep browsing...