7 Secrets That Will Draw Owls to Your Home – Learn Now!

7 Secrets That Will Draw Owls to Your Home – Owls are amazing and mysterious creatures. I’m a permaculture expert, and that means I not only focus on plants and soil, but also create habitats for wildlife. A beautiful pair of barn owls lives on my property, and watching them hunt is always a delight. If you want owls to visit your garden, you need to make your space attractive to them.

Owls always seek security and ample hunting opportunities. They prefer dark and natural surroundings. If your garden is overly manicured, filled with chemicals, and lacks any prey animals, owls probably won’t come to your garden. However, you can attract owls without completely turning your garden into a wilderness.

Get to know the owls in your area

Not all owls are the same. Their behavior, hunting habits, and living patterns vary. For example, while many owls are solitary, long-eared owls winter in groups called “parliaments.” Barn owls, on the other hand, prefer to live with their mates, but sometimes they also live alone. Therefore, it is important to know which owl species are found in your area.

By obtaining information from a local field guide, or a bird group or wildlife organization, you can understand what kind of habitat, box size, and height will be necessary in your garden. For example, a small whiskered screech owl is only 6 inches tall, while a great horned owl can grow up to 25 inches tall.

Bring a Balance of Trees, Shrubs, and Open Ground

Owls love hiding places and enjoy perching in tall trees. However, they need open or lightly brushed ground for hunting. Their vision and hearing help them locate prey. Therefore, your garden should have a balance of safe perches, hiding places, and open ground.

A few tall evergreen trees, especially placed along garden borders, create safe havens for hunting. Mixed-height shrubs, open lawns, and slightly “wild” or untidy areas provide food and habitat for small animals. This makes your garden more attractive to owls and other birds of prey.

Create Wild Corners and Leave Uncluttered

I believe in nature and permaculture, so I prefer a “wild” garden. Wildflowers, clover in the lawn, some rotten wood—these are all ideal for small creatures and their prey. If the garden is completely organized and uncluttered, prey for owls decreases, and they won’t come into the garden.

So, intentionally leave some areas wild. Areas with bushes, dead trunks, and brambles create safe habitats for small animals. You can add simple decorations like wood or railroad tracks to the edge and plant wildflowers there to incorporate these wild areas as part of the design.

The Right Owl Box and Its Height

An owl box is the most effective way to attract owls to your garden. Choosing the right type of box, proper construction, and height is essential. If you know which species are common in your area, you can build or purchase a box accordingly.

For example, for barn owls, if there are few trees, you can install the box on the roof of a quiet building. Screech owls need a box 18 inches deep and 3 inches wide, placed on the branch of a large tree 10-30 feet above the ground.

Create natural perching areas and darkness in the garden

Owls are able to see and hear from a stationary position while hunting. They prefer high perches so they can spot prey on the ground below. You can use a dead tree branch, a tall fence post, or the strong beam of a pergola.

Keep lighting low at night. Both owls and their prey are active at night. Constant bright light makes them insecure. Always replace incandescent bulbs with motion sensors and use soft, warm lighting instead of bright white light.

Managing Wildlife and Water

Don’t use rodent poison. This can be dangerous for owls and other predators. Instead, create clean and safe prey sources.

A small water source is also essential. It provides water for all creatures. A small, shallow pond with a slope and gravel will be safe for both owls and their prey.

Develop a project with neighbors

Owls don’t recognize fences or property boundaries. If an area other than your garden isn’t owl-friendly, owls probably won’t visit. So talk to neighbors and involve them in this project. This will not only attract owls but also increase biodiversity and garden health in the entire area.

Attracting owls to your garden is not just fun to watch, it’s also a great way to improve your garden’s biological health, natural predator control, and wildlife conservation. Proper habitat, safe hunting grounds, darkness, and natural perching areas will encourage them to live and hunt in your garden.

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