Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

How to Make Screech Owl Nests

Screech owls are a common sight throughout the U.S., southern Canada and Mexico. They are small, nocturnal, woodland dwellers. The owls mate from mid-March to mid-May. The screech owl mates for life and nests in naturally occurring holes in trees. The owls will also utilize old woodpecker and northern flicker nests. The holes will ideally be 7 feet to 20 feet above the ground. Screech owls are protected and may not be kept as pets, but you can help to conserve these owls by providing them with suitable nesting sites.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
Pencil
1 x 10-foot piece of white pine, 1-inch thick
Power saw
Hand drill
1/2-inch drill bit
6/64-inch drill bit
Chisel
Hammer
3-inch hole saw
Phillips screwdriver
Handsaw
2 small brass hinges with screws
Caulk
Glue
Aluminum nails (optional)
Cable or chain (optional)
24 sheetrock screws, 2 inches (coated to prevent them from rusting)

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and cut the wood for the back of the screech owl nest. The dimensions are 32 inches x 7 3/4 inches. Use the tape measure and mark the perimeter with a pencil. Use the power saw to cut out the back. Following the same procedure, cut out the bottom piece (8 1/2 inches x 7 3/4 inches) and the front (16 3/4 inches x 7 3/4 inches). All these pieces are rectangular.
- 2
  Measure the sides and mark them with the pencil. The sides are not rectangular, as the top edge slopes down. Measure, mark and cut a strip that's 10-inches wide and 32 1/2-inches long. Measure 18 1/2 inches up the left side of the board and 17 inches up the right-hand side. Draw a slanted line to join the two dots, and cut along the line. The two sides will be identical.
- 3
  Cut the top piece, which will be 11 3/4 inches x 12 inches. Lastly, you will need a long piece that is 1-inch wide x 11 1/4-inches long.
- 4
  Use the drill to drill holes for ventilation and drainage. Ventilation holes (two on each side) are drilled 1 inch from the top of each side. The holes should be 1/2 inch in diameter. Five 1/2-inch drainage holes must be drilled in the bottom piece. One in the middle and one in each corner is the best distribution.
- 5
  Create an entrance for your screech owl nest by drilling a 3-inch hole in the middle of the front piece with a hole saw. The hole should be 4 inches from the top of the front piece. Make horizontal grooves on the inside of the front piece with the chisel. This will enable young owls to climb out of the nest.
- 6
  Attach the sides. Drill three 5/64 holes on the longest side of the side pieces. Attach the side pieces to the back piece using six of the screws (three on each side) and the Phillips screwdriver. The sides should slope down from the back to the front. Use the drill to drill two holes in each side and the back, about 1/2 inch up from the bottom. Attach the bottom piece using the screws and the Phillips screwdriver.
- 7
  Drill three holes in each of the sides of the front piece and on the bottom. Attach it to the nest using three screws for each side and for the bottom. Make sure the front is properly aligned before attaching.
- 8
  Use the handsaw to cut the back of the top piece at an angle that is flush with the back when the top is laying on the sloped sides. Screw in the hinges to attach the top to the back panel. The hinges should be inside the nest. Make sure they are the right way around and enable you to open the top of the nest to clean it out. Use the glue and small nails to attach the strip of wood to the back. The nest should be centered on the wooden strip. Use caulk to seal any places where rainwater could leak in.
- 9
  Hang the box up in a tree, on a pole or on the side of a barn. It should be at least 10-feet high. Use aluminium nails if attaching it to a live tree. If you do not wish to use nails, drill a hole in the top and bottom of the back strip and use a cable or chain. Attaching it to live trees increases the chances of predation by other animals.

Nature