Q: What is a screech owl?

A: Screech owls are one of the smallest of owl species in North America. They eat large insects and small rodents such as mice. The two most common varieties of screech owls in the United States are the Eastern Screech Owl and Western Screech Owl.

Q: Do screech owls live where I do? What about saw-whet owls?

A: Screech owls are found in nearly every state in the United States as well as elsewhere in North America. Screech owls thrive in urban areas where they have a mix of trees and open spaces. Saw-whet owls will nest in these boxes as well.

Q: Is the OwlView™ roosting window different than the opening on other products?

A: Absolutely! Most nest box openings are very small and do not provide the birds with a spot to roost which, means they are not typically visible to human eyes either. Our OwlView™ roosting window provides a perfect spot for both adult and baby screech owls alike to perch. Beak-cause we think you should see the whole bird and not just its beak.  

Q: Where should I place the nest box?

A: Using the large, 2 ½ inch screws provided, mount the nest box on a vertical tree trunk so that the top of the box is at least 10 feet off the ground. Hardwood trees like oaks, pine, pecan and other large trees are ideal. Bushy trees like cedar, juniper and large shrubs are not suitable. The owls will need an open area to fly into the box so, find a clear spot on the tree or create one by removing a few small limbs. Ideally, the OwlView™ roosting window of the box should face any direction EXCEPT due North. This will prevent cold, winter wind and rain from entering the box directly. The box should be level or as close to level as possible in order to keep out rain and the elements. If it must tilt slightly, forward is preferable to backwards.

Q: What if I don’t have a suitable tree to place my box?                                           

A: Nest boxes also will work well on the side of a house, garage, barn, etc.

Q: Do I need to put anything inside the box?                                                            

A: A handful of dry leaves are all you need to place in the box.

Q: Any Maintenance?                                                                                                   

A: No, these nest boxes are made of cedar and should last many years. While not required, if at the end of the season you want to empty it out and add new leaves it's up to you! Just make sure it's vacant! The boxes will weather naturally and fade into a color similar to the bark of the tree. 

Q. What about squirrels? 

A. placing the nesting box on a stand alone tree and adding a tree baffle is one way to try and limit the exposure to squirrels. If this isn't an option most squirrels will leave when the owls take up residency, but if the squirrel is stubborn and won't leave get a broom and bang on the bottom of the box!                                                                                           

Q. What if I've seen an owl in my nest box, but haven't seen him in awhile?         

A. The male initially scouts out the nest, so often when you don't see him he may not yet be comfortable with roosting there. But often if it's mating season you won't even know they are in the box because you may not see them in the window. The male spends most of his time hunting and protecting the box from a nearby tree and the female spends most of her time sitting on the eggs.

Q: Shipping Policy for OwlReach Boxes

A: All OwlReach Nest Boxes ship within 48 hours unless it is a special order. Shipping takes between 2-5 days depending on where you live. Please allow for more transit time during holiday seasons. 

Q: What do I do if I have additional questions?

A: Call or email us and we will help in any way that we can! Also, please see our OwlReach Nesting Box video below for more helpful info!

Stay Owlsome!