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How to Build a Nest for a Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are one of North America's largest raptors. Like most owls, they prefer to utilize the abandoned nests of other birds rather than build their own. They typically inhabit the nests in deciduous trees (trees that lose all their leaves for part of year) and rock crevices that are more than 15 feet above the ground. People often build artificial nests near their gardens and farms because these owls are known to prey upon nuisance animals.

Things You'll Need

3' X 3' 1 inch chicken wire
Wire cutters
Gloves
Scissors
3' X 3' tarpaper
1-meter steel wire coil (6-meter length)
Sticks and branches
15-20 foot ladder

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a mature, large deciduous tree greater than 12 inches in diameter, preferably on the perimeter of your property (Great Horned Owls are more likely to nest where there is less human activity). Identify a crotch in the tree, a naturally occurring split in the trees' trunk, that is more than 15 feet off the ground.
- 2
  Cut the chicken wire with the wire cutters from one corner to the center (be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands). Overlap the two cut edges to form the shape of a cone. Bend the overlapped wire edges inward to secure the cone shape.
- 3
  Cut a drain hole that is approximately 1 inch wide in the bottom of the chicken wire cone using the wire cutters.
- 4
  Cut the tarpaper with the scissors from one corner to the center. Form it into a cone shape and place the tarpaper cone inside the chicken wire cone. Cut a 1 inch drain hole in the tar paper that aligns with the hole you cut in the chicken wire.
- 5
  Place enough small sticks and branches into the nest to completely pad the bottom of the cone. Wrap the wire around the branches and poke it through the tarpaper. Twist the ends of the exposed wire into the chicken wire cone.
- 6
  Climb the ladder and place the nest in the tree crotch. Weave the wire into the sides of the chicken wire cone. Wrap the wire ends around the tree trunk, so the nest is firmly secured to the tree.

Nature