Tom Stephan has practiced the ancient sport of falconry since 1967. Since 1992, Tom has captively bred endangered falcons and hawks. Tom's vocation is in the green industry and is a certified Arborist, Western Chapter #3031.
Tom writes, "Once in '92 while trimming a large sycamore tree, I re-installed a nest box that the client had placed in the tree being serviced. She explained that it was placed on a low branch by her late husband because, using a ladder, he was unable to safely go higher. Four years had passed and she was still without owls. The trimming and reinstall was performed on a Tuesday. Four days later, she called to say thanks for the moving of the box, as she now had a pair of owls who were curious as to why her entire bridge club was, so interested in them!".
Barn Owls are popular with farmers and gardeners. The ideal nesting box site locations are in trees. Trees are the natural site location as the birds most often are found inhabiting hollow tree trunks and branches. Trees also provide shade throughout the year.
When site location season arrives, all the trees within that pairs territory are inspected for a cavity. Upon discovery of the provided nesting box, the owls usually waste little time setting up housekeeping. Hanging the box can be done at any time of year.
Mounting the box on a pole is an exceptable method of attracting a pair of owls. Nesting commences about January. Ending about June. Boxes installed in trees usually keep the parent birds for the remainder of the year, not so the pole mounted boxes. After the young owlets have fledged in early July it is usually too hot to spend the day sleeping in the box, exposed to the summer sun's punishing heat. They usually abondon the box until the winter or early spring, spending the long, hot days of summer in a nearby tree. The cooperative extension of the Dept. of Agriculture is recommending 5-6 boxes per mile for the average row crop farm or orchard.
Some box configurations need annual sanitation servicing, some do not. The rectangular boxes hung in trees are maintenance free. The servicable life of a maintenance free type nesting box is about 10 years, or 20,000 rodents!
Stephan's Tree Maintenance makes nesting boxes for other species!
1.American Kestrels are a small native falcon. A U.S.Fish and Wildlife study showed that one pair of Kestrels consume up to 340 lbs. of insects, mice, rats and gophers per year! when you install a Barn Owl and a Kestrel nest box, now you have hands off, organic rodent control, bieng performed on your property 24/7! Kestrels are the second most beneficial raptor that can be easily attracted to your garden or farm. 2.Bluebirds. A beautiful insect eater! 3.Bats! Touted as the worlds most beneficial animal. An insect vacuum! 4. All boxes can be equipped with miniature cameras for the biologist, student or owl afficianado!
Stephan's Tree Maintenance is available mostly in California and Arizona. Call for special contracts in other States.
Tom Stephan is available for lectures. Call (760)789-1493 for more information
