How to Find Owl Nests in Minnesota

Consult a birding book to determine what type of owls live in your area. Some common Minnesota owls include the barn owl, the northern hawk owl, great gray owl, great horned owl, boreal owl and the eastern screech owl. Though all of these owls can be found in the state of Minnesota, they may not all be located in your area.

Familiarize yourself with the feeding and nesting habits of your local owls, as this will help you locate them. For instance, the burrowing owl of southwestern Minnesota burrows into the ground to create its nest. The large great gray owl of northern Minnesota uses the same nest year after year, so once you locate this owl's nest, you can return to it the following season. Familiarizing yourself with how and where specific owls nest will allow you to know what you're looking for. Similarly, learning owl calls can help you track owls back to their nest.

Begin your owl nest search when the owl is most active. Most owls are nocturnal, but some can be active during the daytime. Use a headlamp or flashlight when searching for owls. Be sure you are looking for nests during the owls' mating season, as finding an active nest will be much easier.

Look in low-traffic, wooded areas for owls' nests. Many owls will nest in trees in wooded areas. Because most owls do not make their own nests, but instead use tree hollows or the abandoned nests of other birds, older trees with large knots are more habitable for owls. Additionally, some owls will nest in building awnings, eves and barns.

Listen for the hooting sound of the owls and then follow the direction of the call as closely as possible.

Check the ground surrounding trees, buildings and barns for signs of owl pellets. Most owls produce a white or gray fuzzy pellet that is about the size and shape of a golf ball. These pellets will contain bones, fur and the other undigested material of the owl's prey. Look up into the tree or building once you have found a high concentration of owl pellets. You should be able to locate the owl's nest right above the pellets.

Return to the nest site during the day to get a better look at the owls.

Build an owl box in your yard to attract owl nests. Because owls do not build their own nests, they frequently use owl boxes placed on properties. Having an owl in your yard can also help prevent rodent infestations.