Situation
In the area where the pole mounted nesting boxes were placed there were three farms, one of which was demolished. Three pairs of barn owls nest in these farms. Pole mounted nesting boxes thus serve as compensation and are custom built.
Methodology
From the Purmerend municipality, we received a sketch of the barn owl shelter. Based on this sketch, the barn owl traps were custom-made by our collaboration partner Miecon. Pole mounted nesting boxes were then installed.
The pole mounted nesting box was built to provide an ideal nesting site for the barn owl. The barn owl house is built of Douglas-fir wood and the roof is finished with concealed gutters to prevent leakage. The posts of these barn owl lofts are steel and run through the roof to create a hay barn effect, they also stand in a solid concrete foundation. On one side of the pole mounted nesting box is an access hatch and an entrance opening with a seat for barn owls. A barn owl box was placed in the pole mounted nesting box and some perches. Ventilation and venting is provided in the ridge of the roof. The bottom of the pole mounted nesting boxes came to a height of about 4 meters.
Nice results
Soon after installation, a check by the municipality revealed that both pole mounted nesting boxes were already being heavily visited by barn owls. Numerous pellets, moulting nests, prey remains and chalk marks were found in the pole mounted nesting boxes as well as in the nest boxes placed in the tills.
In the end, barn owls actually nested successfully in one of the pole mounted nesting boxes. As many as four young were found. This achieved the intended effect of providing nesting sites for barn owls to compensate for a barn being demolished
Also need a customized solution?
We have already had the opportunity to complete several projects for the Purmerend Municipality, including the delivery and installation of an insect wall, a swallow tower and a peregrine falcon box. To that, this beautiful project has now been added.
Also need a customized solution? Then contact us for options.
