Barn Owl Nesting Boxes
At the Gardens:
The Community Garden of Santa Clarita has installed two Barn Owl Nesting boxes at the gardens to control the rodent issues in a non toxic manner. Barn Owls will not only serve as pest control, but as an educational tool inside the gardens. Our Education Committee will be monitoring the nest with the use of an owl camera as well as checking for owl pellets nearby the boxes. During the non-nesting months of October and November we will be cleaning out the boxes for the next season.
The Community Garden of Santa Clarita has installed two Barn Owl Nesting boxes at the gardens to control the rodent issues in a non toxic manner. Barn Owls will not only serve as pest control, but as an educational tool inside the gardens. Our Education Committee will be monitoring the nest with the use of an owl camera as well as checking for owl pellets nearby the boxes. During the non-nesting months of October and November we will be cleaning out the boxes for the next season.
Barn Owl Information:
General Info:
The Barn Owl, scientific name, Tyto alba, is the most widely distributed species of owl. According to ornithologists there are up to 28 different subspecies of the barn owl due to is varying colors and sizes. The Barn Owl can be anywhere between 13 to 15 inches in height with a wingspan of 31 to 37 inches. This bird is primarily nocturnal although in areas of Britain and the Pacific Islands, they have been known to hunt during the daytime. Barn owls do not hoot instead they make a long eerie shrieking sound. They hunt their meals on the ground and their diet consists mainly of small mammals. As a nocturnal animal the barn owl's hearing is very acute and they prey upon small mammals by listening to them.
Status and Conservation:
Barn owls are very common throughout the world and are not considered globally threatened. However, in Europe and North America some subspecies have been in severe decline due to the use DDT (organochlorine) in the mid 20th century and currently from the use of rodenticides.
Nest Boxes:
Nesting boxes provide an opportunity to increase the declining populations of barn owls. Many conservationists encourage land owner and farmers to install nesting boxes on their land.
General Info:
The Barn Owl, scientific name, Tyto alba, is the most widely distributed species of owl. According to ornithologists there are up to 28 different subspecies of the barn owl due to is varying colors and sizes. The Barn Owl can be anywhere between 13 to 15 inches in height with a wingspan of 31 to 37 inches. This bird is primarily nocturnal although in areas of Britain and the Pacific Islands, they have been known to hunt during the daytime. Barn owls do not hoot instead they make a long eerie shrieking sound. They hunt their meals on the ground and their diet consists mainly of small mammals. As a nocturnal animal the barn owl's hearing is very acute and they prey upon small mammals by listening to them.
Status and Conservation:
Barn owls are very common throughout the world and are not considered globally threatened. However, in Europe and North America some subspecies have been in severe decline due to the use DDT (organochlorine) in the mid 20th century and currently from the use of rodenticides.
Nest Boxes:
Nesting boxes provide an opportunity to increase the declining populations of barn owls. Many conservationists encourage land owner and farmers to install nesting boxes on their land.
For more information on Barn Owls please visit the following links below: