Owl question

[neilp9]

Hello everyone,
My first post here is a question. I can't seem to find the answer but if ive missed it im sorry.

In the past few nights, ive heard the call of an owl(s).
I live in quite a built up area but there's a playing field surrounded by trees at the end of the street where I guess its coming from.

Im wondering if there is anything I could do to help them - ie food.
I know they'll get mice from the field but was wondering if there is anything I can do to help or is it best to leave them alone?

Thanks in advance

[KentYeti]

I'm tempted to do the same with my local owls, but haven't done so. Yet!

I guess it could be a Tawny Owl living where you describe. My understanding is that they do use/live in parklands and even large mature gardens with decent sized trees.

So presumably they have enough natural food around and don't need feeding.

We touched on that here recently and it wouldn't in any case be easy to start feeding an owl that is used to catching live mice/voles etc.

So that's why I've kept away from doing that myself.

Still a lovely sound to hear in the night.

Cheers,

Bryan

PS. Welcome to WAB! Hope you stay, join in and enjoy yourself here.

[faz]

hi neilp9 welcome to WAB it sounds like a tawny owl you can hear. as for feeding them i would leave well alone they are more than capable of finding there own food. as kent yeti says they hunt live food and even if you did manage to feed them it would cost a lot on money to buy live mice etc.

[neilp9]

Thanks guys.
I thought it'd be a bit tricky but love owls so thought i'd ask.

I'll stick to feeding the birds and squirrels for now.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by neilp9

squirrels for now.

Squirrels compete for nest sites with owls and can predate nests and eggs, so discouraging squirrels may indirectly help the local owls. Although the magnitude of this is probably insignificant, decreasing grey squirrel populations would be beneficial for a wide range of species.

Perhaps you could build a tawny owl nest box and put it up?

[neilp9]

I've only seen 2 squirrels. One looks like adult and one smaller. They live opposite my house in an evergreen next to a church and stay on the church grounds. All the other trees are bare now so im quite sure they're in there.

The owl i heard was coming from the field at the end of the street in the (very big) trees. This is some distance away so im confident they are some distance apart.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Squirrels compete for nest sites with owls and can predate nests and eggs, so discouraging squirrels may indirectly help the local owls. Although the magnitude of this is probably insignificant, decreasing grey squirrel populations would be beneficial for a wide range of species.

Perhaps you could build a tawny owl nest box and put it up?

The only interest I've had in my tawny owl box is from squirrels. I occasionally clear their nesting material out and also bang on the box with a long stick from time to time to flush out any residents. I've tried putting curry powder in the box, but they don't seem to mind!

Jim

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

The only interest I've had in my tawny owl box is from squirrels. I occasionally clear their nesting material out and also bang on the box with a long stick from time to time to flush out any residents. I've tried putting curry powder in the box, but they don't seem to mind!

Jim

It is a problem I also face Jim. I have yet to find a way around it, I am reluctant to place more boxes up as I dont want to increase the squirrel population. Isolated boxes on woodland edge seem to have a better take up of owls. I also have the same problem with jackdow and stock dove in the barn owl boxes, although in this case I do just increase the number of boxes which works. I have heard of covering boxes in metal flashing which is too smooth for squirrels to climb on, however its too expensive and makes the box weight a ton, although perhaps plastic may work.

[faz]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

It is a problem I also face Jim. I have yet to find a way around it, I am reluctant to place more boxes up as I dont want to increase the squirrel population. Isolated boxes on woodland edge seem to have a better take up of owls. I also have the same problem with jackdow and stock dove in the barn owl boxes, although in this case I do just increase the number of boxes which works. I have heard of covering boxes in metal flashing which is too smooth for squirrels to climb on, however its too expensive and makes the box weight a ton, although perhaps plastic may work.

try flashband from your local builders supplys heat it up stick on box might work ?