BUILD A SIMPLE OWL DWELLING

I first stumbled into making owl boxes through a request from a local nursery here in Sonoma County, California. I was happy to jump at the chance to help, and now I’ve made upwards of 70 owl dwellings — nearly an entire avian subdivision.

Expert birders and random observers alike are fascinated by owls, part bird of prey, part ghost in the night. It continues to be a rare delight when I spot one gliding silently on its evening hunt. They’re excellent at controlling pest populations in fields and vineyards. Their menu is anything small and furry, including mice, shrews, voles, and gophers, and you can see their hunting success firsthand in the regurgitated pellets scattered below their dwellings. Tiny white bones dot the grass below their enclaves. Beyond fulfilling their duty as pest exterminators, though, owls are alluring creatures to host on your property.

An owl box, in which an owl can nest protected from predators, is simple in design and execution. Alongside a handful of other subtle details, it’s really just a rectangular box that will attract