With funding from the Tarka Country Trust's Community Wildlife Fund, Phil Metcalfe, who volunteers with the Biosphere Service, has been making barn owl boxes to give to landowners with suitable habitat and buildings. Modern agricultural sheds are generally unsuitable for barn owls because they do not have ledges where nests can be built. But the addition of a nest box can change a new building into a desirable residence for barn owl.
The boxes follow the tried and tested design produced by the Barn Owl Trust. Most of the boxes will be going in barns but where no suitable barns can be found the boxes will be put in trees. The entrance hole on all the boxes is high up so that fledglings owlets have to be able to fly a certain amount before gaining access to the outside platform.
Phil will be making 20 barn owl boxes and although many already have an agreed location, there are still some available. If you have a suitable barn and suitable feeding habitat nearby (rough grassland) and are interested in putting up a box please contact Phil Metcalfe
The boxes follow the tried and tested design produced by the Barn Owl Trust. Most of the boxes will be going in barns but where no suitable barns can be found the boxes will be put in trees. The entrance hole on all the boxes is high up so that fledglings owlets have to be able to fly a certain amount before gaining access to the outside platform.
Phil will be making 20 barn owl boxes and although many already have an agreed location, there are still some available. If you have a suitable barn and suitable feeding habitat nearby (rough grassland) and are interested in putting up a box please contact Phil Metcalfe