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. Barn Owls are popular with farmers and gardeners. The ideal nesting box site locations are under trees. Pole mounted nest boxes can be placed out in the sun...if no shade is available. 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. Installing the box can be done at any time of year.Air Superiority will have a technician mount the nest box on sixteen foot high, galvanized steel pole, or in a tree suspended by chains. Nesting commences about January...ending about June. 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. After the young are old enough to thermo-regulate by themselves, the parents usually spend the day in a nearby tree, taking advantage of any breeze that they may encounter. 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 aficionado!
Tom Stephan is available for lectures. Call (760)789-1493 for more information
For organic bird control see http://www.air-superiority.com