Barn Owl

Tyto alba

barn owl on silo

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

fledglings at bottom of silo
barn owl at silo opening
Adult on platform at top of silo, prior to the 1998 nesting A 4" lip was added to the platform in early spring when the owls began using the silo. The platform was also leveled and covered with wood chips to prevent the eggs from rolling around.

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

Back to birds page

2003 barn owl nest cam

2006 polygamous barn owl nest cam

2003 barn owl prey cam study

2001 - 2011 nestbox cameras

2011 barn owl nesting NEW

2011 barn owl prey cam NEW

Attracting barn swallows with artificial nest cups	2012 barn owl nesting
2012 barn swallow nesting	2011 barn owl nesting
2012 barn swallow prey cam	2011 barn owl prey cam
A new barn swallow shelter for 2013	2010 barn owl nesting
2001 barn swallow nest cam	2006 barn owl polygamous nesting
Attracting barn swallows	2003 barn owl nesting
The barn swallow	2003 barn owl prey study
Barn swallow basics	The attic barn owl nest
Transplanting a barn swallow nest	Living with barn owls
2001 testing of artificial nest cups	Barn owl electrocution
Using artificial nest cups	The barn owl nest box
Barn swallow shelters	2005 Northern flicker nest cam
2010 American kestrel nest cam	2002 Northern flicker nest cam
2012 Kestrel nesting	2001 Northern flicker nest cam
2002 Kestrel nest cam	Flicker and starling nest box competition
2001 Kestrel nest cam	Yellow shafted flicker
The Kestrel tower	Northern flicker nest box
The American Kestrel	Flicker box sliding hole cover
More on kestrels	A flicker drum
2010 Update	Entire site index (outdated)
Starling traps	Using blinds in the home habitat

Species of interest in our yard - photos and articles
barn owl American kestrel purple martin barn swallow Eastern bluebird
tufted titmouse Eastern phoebe yellow shafted flicker tree swallow chimney swift

house wren big brown bat Carolina wren brown thrasher catbird

Eastern wood-pewee cedar waxwing Northern mockingbird Turkey vulture

Species of interest in our yard - photos and articles
barn owl	American kestrel	purple martin	barn swallow	Eastern bluebird
tufted titmouse	Eastern phoebe	yellow shafted flicker	tree swallow	chimney swift
house wren	big brown bat	Carolina wren	brown thrasher	catbird
Eastern wood-pewee		cedar waxwing	Northern mockingbird	Turkey vulture