Tag Archive for: rodent control in vineyards

Plastic Barn Owl Nest Boxes Versus Wooden: A Clear Choice

The molded plastic heat resistant Barn Owl Box is now being used by thousands of farms and properties.

In 2009, I was a field researcher and animal trainer for the Pittsburgh Zoo. In conjunction with Moraine Preservation Fund, we had erected over 200 wooden nest boxes in PA; however an inspection a few years later revealed many of them were rotting. The immense amount of work seemed wasted and no one had the money to build and erect replacements.

At that time I also spoke to the sustainable director for a large farming concern in Florida that had used barn owl boxes. He informed me they had given up using them since the weather quickly destroyed their plywood boxes. Similar stories came out of California. Few farms were employing large numbers of boxes, though many had a few. It seemed short-lived wooden boxes were deterring barn owl box programs.

So, over a two year period, I designed the plastic box. The product took off rapidly and we began to see large orders from vineyards and orchards. We also receive repeat orders from wildlife departments of various states. My guess had proven true: when farmers and property owners were offered a nest box that would last, they were more inclined to buy and erect them.

My goal of both conserving the barn owl and reducing the use of poisons seemed realized. To date, we have increased the number of nest boxes in the country by many thousands and this has had a positive impact on barn owl populations. Illinois alone has reported a five fold

Plastic nest boxes fledge large numbers of young

increase in their population. The Florida farms that had discontinued using wooden boxes have now installed over 1000 plastic boxes to controthe large numbers of cotton rats in their fields; they report 100% occupancy.

Our own study in Elk Grove California in 2012 attracted 18 breeding pairs that fledged 66 young on a scant 100 acre vineyard in a single season.

Occupation rate was 75%. The density of barn owls on that parcel of land was one of the highest ever reported.  (Browning, et al. 2016 published by 27th Vertebrate Pest Conference, University of CA Davis.)

Wooden boxes are increasingly being taken over by honey bees

Increasingly we have been receiving evidence of another benefit to plastic barn owl boxes. People with both wooden and plastic nest boxes have been noticing that only their wooden boxes have been invaded by honey bees. (And many such hives are Africanized strains of the bee that are highly aggressive and dangerous to humans.)

Our best guess is that the smooth, impregnable plastic surface does not allow the bees to glue their nest to the walls or ceilings. Honey bees will attack the nest, kill the young, and soon make the nest box uninhabitable except for themselves. And Africanized bees are moving northward. In California they have expanded their range since the 1990’s as far north as Napa County. We still urge caution when inspecting our nest boxes, but so far we have no reports of bee occupation.

Today, the choice remains between wood and plastic, and there is some debate over which may have advantages over the other. As someone who has used many of each in the field, I first want to say that both wooden and plastic boxes attract barn owls in high numbers where barn owl populations are good. That said, here are the pros and cons of each:

Pros and Cons between Wooden and Plastic Barn Owl Boxes

The Wooden Box

Advantages:

  • Can be built at home by do-it-yourselfers
  • Initial outlay is lower
  • Just as likely to attract barn owls as plastic

Disadvantages

  • Deteriorate in as little as two years
  • Need repainted periodically
  • If not repainted frequently, the wood surface makes the barn owl box too hot for fledglings
  • Harbor greater loads of parasites
  • Are heavy to install, requiring two people minimum.
  • Need replaced periodically, erasing the initial savings in costs.
  • To save on expense, many wooden boxes are built too small
  • Wooden boxes are frequently occupied by honey bees and these are often Africanized bees which present a danger to humans

The Plastic Barn Owl Nest Box

       Advantages

  • Far outlasts wooden boxes
  • More economical overall
  • Never needs repainted
  • With heat reflective pigments, double box system, and efficient venting, remains cool in full sun
  • Larger size than most wooden boxes (26 x 17 x 17).
  • Achieves high rates of occupancy and fledgling success
  • Can be quickly installed by a single person
  • Evidence indicates that honey bees (including Africanized strains) do not build nests in plastic boxes due to not being able to glue their nests to the smooth plastic

Conclusion

There is nothing wrong with providing wooden boxes for barn owls. They may be particularly useful for do-it-yourselfers and beginners. But for farms and property owners who want to create reliably long-lasting nest box programs that require very little maintenance, plastic next boxes provide a clear choice.

Please go to www.barnowlbox.com for more info.

Christmas Sale on Barn Owl Nest Boxes

Save $40 off of our regular price. No limits on purchases.

 

Take advantage of our deep Xmas discounts for our premier product, the Barn Owl Nest Box Pole Model. This plastic molded nest box is lightweight, long lasting, heat resistant and is by the far the best barn owl box on the market. It is now in use by thousands of vineyards, orchards, state wildlife agencies, and private property owners. Normally $259, it is now deeply discounted for Christmas at $219. Good till December 18th! Go to https://www.barnowlbox.com/shop/boxes/the-pole-model/ to order.

Barn owls consume extraordinary numbers of harmful rodent pests including pocket gophers, voles, mice, and rats and have been shown to significantly reduce pest numbers and damage to crops from pests. See the PBS segment on our research in California here: http://www.americasheartland.org/episodes/episode_714/owls_save_crops.htm

Note the baby barn owls peering out from the entrance.

The Barn Owl Nest Box Pole Model, constructed of rugged molded plastic, features a landing ledge, exterior perch, rain guard, and viewing window in the rear. It incorporates heat reflective pigments in the outer box, combined with highly efficient venting that keeps the nest box near ambient temperature in full sun. The nest box has been used in various research projects around the country and achieves 80 to 100% occupancy in many regions. State biologists in California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have been installing them in conservation programs. Vineyards, orchards, row crops, sugar cane and other agriculture use them in sophisticated nest box programs to create dense populations of owls that                        reduce rodent numbers and rodent control costs.

Barn Owl Breeding Season is Coming

Barn owls begin breeding activity as early as January in warmer areas, and as late as early March in others. They are highly skilled at locating cavities suitable for nesting and constantly search for entrances that will accomodate them and their young. The best time to install is anywhere from November to mid-March. We also offer the Barn Owl Box Pole Kit, visible in the photo on the right that allows for easy installation. You can see this product here: https://www.barnowlbox.com/shop/installation/339/

Chronic use of cocaine is associated with relative dopaminergic hypofunctioning and may underlie the withdrawal symptoms and craving observed in cocaine-dependent persons who have recently established abstinence [ 9]. Do not receive a “live” vaccine while using Dupixent. Use: Prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients 6 years of age and older Detailed Singulair dosage information What happens if I miss a dose apotek24.org. Treatment for other illnesses Always tell other doctors, nurses, pharmacists or dentists that you’re having this treatment if you need treatment for anything else, including teeth problems.

Announcing the launch of our new product: The Wooden Barn Owl Box. 

The Wooden Barn Owl Box from the                  Barn Owl Box Company

Our newest product, the Wooden    Barn Owl Box is a departure from  our rotomolded nest boxes. We      have been asked for some period of  time to produce a wooden box, so in keeping with customer demand we have designed this cutting-edge wooden box, sparing no amount of  labor or expense to ensure that this nest box excels over other wooden boxes that are being offered. We accomplish this through adhering to the same high standards that we apply to the construction of our rotomolded boxes: heat-resistant surfaces, efficient ventilation, excellent water-proofing, and ease of maintenance. The nest box is painted with two coats of heat reflective paint.

The photos below show the various innovative features of this nest box. During this time of preventative measures against coronavirus when our manufacturers are shut down, we will be able to manufacture and ship these boxes from our Pennsylvania location nationwide.

The roof is sloped to the rear and overhangs all sides to repel rain. A tapered gap at the top provides excellent ventilation. The 9 x 18 access door allows for easy maintenance, and the front features a 5.5″ entrance hole and landing perch.

 

The large access door allows for quick and easy cleaning and the brown interior protects against pests and moisture and keeps it dark for the birds.

 

 

The weatherproof vent on the rear doubles as an inspection window when the plastic cover is removed.

 

 

 

In addition to the above features, the Wooden Barn Owl Box incorporates two coats of a specially designed, heat-reflective paint for roofing applications that keeps the box close to ambient temperature even in full sun. The interior dark brown paint also provides moisture and pest resistance and keeps the box dark for the birds. 

At 24 x 19 x 19 inches the nest box provides ample space for a family of barn owls. The box weighs 26 pounds. The clean out door makes it quick and easy to clean and maintain, and the combination vent and viewing window in the rear allows for inspection of the contents of the box without the need to look through the entrance hole. Excellent ventilation is achieved through cross venting between the rear vent and the entrance hole combined with the long gaps at the top of each side.

The nest box assembles in under half an hour, requiring only an electric drill and Phillips head drill bit. Any questions regarding this new product, email us at marksbrowning@gmail.com or call 877-637-8269.

 

Three different mounting methods for the Wooden Barn Owl Box. (1) The first is perhaps the easiest when mounting on a 4 x 4 post. The base is bolted to the center of the nest box underside and receives the post which is then secured with screws. (2) The second piece of hardware also screws to a 4 x 4. (3) The round flange is what is used to attach the nest box to the threads on a 1″ Schedule C pipe. All three are available at hardware and building supply stores.

Tips on Placement and Installation

Barn owls are open field hunters and therefore their nest boxes should be placed near open areas such as vineyards, orchards, pastures, grasslands, wetlands, or row crops. Entrance holes may be a bit more attractive to barn owls if they face easterly (NE, SE, or E) directions. The barn owl box does not need to be erected any higher than eight feet. Always place large pieced bark mulch about three inches deep across the entire floor. Barn owls will breed in any month of the year, but can be so quiet that you will not know they are there. Keep inspections to a minimum. If you discover barn owls on eggs or with chicks, let them be until the chicks are close to fledging age (six to nine weeks). Attracting barn owls is as simple as erecting a nest box and allowing the barn owls to find the nest box with their excellent eyesight.