living in nature weso nest boxes 2015

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society 324 Penticton Ave., Penticton, BC, V2A2M3

Ph: 250-809-1980 Email: okanaganstewardship@gmail.com

Western Screech Owl Nest Boxes

Why mount a western screech owl nest box?

Western screech owls are birds of prey that are active at

night. They are excellent hunters and great at controlling

pests, such as mice! Western screech owls are endangered;

there are estimated to be fewer than 250 left in BC. They live

in forests found along creeks, rivers and lakes, and nest in

natural cavities found in mature deciduous trees.

Unfortunately, the forest that these owls like to live in is

mostly found in valley bottoms where people have had the

biggest impact, and there aren’t many natural cavities left.

Putting up a nest box on your property can make up for the

loss of their natural habitat and help screech owls return to

their historic range.

Where should you put a western screech owl nest box?

Nest boxes should be mounted at least 3 meters (10 feet)

above the ground in deep shade. Place the box in a secluded

area that is far away from busy areas like driveways, sidewalks

or playgrounds and other predators, as the owls may feel

threatened and defensive. Ensure tree branches or over-

hanging vegetation is cleared from the nest entrance to allow

for a clear flight path. Ideally, the nest box should be

mounted in January or February, prior to nesting season,

which begins in late March or April.

What can you expect to see and hear?

The owls may not only use the nest box to nest, but also to ‘roost’, the act of resting and perching. Keep

an eye out for them at all times of the year. Clues to indicate the owls are using the nest box may be the

presence of feathers or white wash. The best time of day to hear the Western screech owl begins about

30 minutes after sunset. They only screech when agitated; most of their calls consist of mellow whistles

and trills. When they are calling for mates, they use a series of hoots getting faster that sounds like a

‘ball bouncing’.

Western Screech Owl box mounted in

a ponderosa pine Photo by Kieran McIntosh

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society 324 Penticton Ave., Penticton, BC, V2A2M3

Ph: 250-809-1980 Email: okanaganstewardship@gmail.com

What to do if you see or hear a western screech owl:

If you do hear their call, record as much information as you can; things like the date, time of sunset and

time you heard the call. Do your best to describe the call, whether you hear one or two birds calling,

and where on your property you think the owl was; the more details the better but even if the only thing

you write down is that you heard an owl call it can still be really

great information. Please call or email Okanagan Similkameen

Stewardship if you do hear or see western screech owls on your

property so that the information gets recorded and biologists can

track the recovery of these little owls.

How do you care for a western screech owl nest box?

Annual cleaning is best carried out in the fall (October or

November) when the owls are the least likely to be using it and

there are no viable eggs or fledglings present. Remove all old nest

materials and replace them with a couple of centimeters (1 inch) of

dried leaves on the bottom. Always use caution when up a ladder

taking care of your owl box and be aware that other species may be

using the nest box. It is always best to knock on the side of your

nest box before opening it to give occupants a chance to get out.

We’ve known squirrels and hornets to come flying out!

References:

http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/backyard/backyard0201.html

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/wsi/reports/4217_WSI_4217_RPT2.PDF

http://www.prbo.org/cms/docs/edu/owlboxes.pdf

Western Screech Owl Photo by Steve Cannings