The Ojai Raptor Center's owl boxes provide nesting and roosting habitat for cavity nesting species - Barn Owls, American Kestrels and Western Screech Owls.
Key benefits of installing a Barn Owl Box
Mated pairs will mate for life unless one of the mates passes away or disappears. Barn Owls reach maturity at one year.
Prey: 74-100% small mammals/rodents. Rats, mice, voles, and gophers are popular prey items.
Breeding season: Barn Owls have one of the longest breeding seasons of North American raptors- ranging from February to November with the majority of nesting happening between February and June. Barn Owls producing more than 1 brood per year in California is not uncommon.
Number of eggs: avg. 5-7
Incubation period: 29-34 days
Parental feeding habits: Male parent will hunt and deliver food but only female feeds the young. Once the nestlings are able to eat whole foods, female parent will also return to hunting.
Fledging: Barn Owl fledglings leave the nest around 50-55 days but will return to nest/box site for several weeks and continue to roost in the area for up to 8 weeks.
Threats to Barn Owls: pesticides, rodenticides, impacts with vehicles, habitat loss.
Owl Box Maintenance
Owl Boxes should be cleaned out every one to two years. Contact us for cleaning services.