Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Barn owls have nested in our yard almost every year. Their traditional site was a chimney flue, but we have, at various times, lured them to other sites, including a nestbox in an attic window. Last year we finally were successful in attracting them to a nesting platform in the silo. The nesting was successful although only three eggs were layed, However, the fledglings weren't able to fly the width of the silo from the platform over the ladder to the opening, and ended up on the floor of the empty silo. The parents continued to feed them and they were thriving when I discovered them, but were still unable to fly straight up the silo to escape. They had probably been on the silo floor 3-5 days when I found them. My presence was enough to scare two of them to make it all the way to the top after several tries. The third one could only make it about half way up and had to be released through the work shop. All three returned to the silo the next night to be feed by the parents. The small one once again ended up on the floor, unable to ascend to the silo top and was removed through the shop. From then on, they all either managed to not fall down the silo or were able to escape. They continued returning to the silo each night for a couple weeks.
The silo nesting - 1998
The attic nest box
Feeding owls
The attic barn owl nestbox
Living with Barn Owls
Electrocution of barn owls
Provide a home for barn owls in your yard
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2003 barn owl nest cam
2006 polygamous barn owl nest cam
barn owl prey cam study
2001 - 2003 nestbox cameras NEW
© 2001, 2006 Richard Van Vleck, Taneytown, Maryland
