Little houses on poles

[Mac of Cygnet]

At intervals between Goole and Knottingley on the Aire and Calder there are these things like little houses on poles. About 15ft in the air, about 1ft x 1ft x 18ins, with an open door 6ins by 4ins on one side and a bolted door 6ins square on the other, sometimes one facing the canal and sometimes the other. I saw about a dozen, but as you can see the one I photographed is No 71. Of course, nestboxes springs to mind, but for what? Ducks would have abit of a squeeze getting in, and anyway they seem to manage without this sort of thing elsewhere. Anyone know what they are designed for?

 

Mac

 

 

[gbmud]

Speed cameras.

 

 

Chris

[magnetman]

At intervals between Goole and Knottingley on the Aire and Calder there are these things like little houses on poles. About 15ft in the air, about 1ft x 1ft x 18ins, with an open door 6ins by 4ins on one side and a bolted door 6ins square on the other, sometimes one facing the canal and sometimes the other. I saw about a dozen, but as you can see the one I photographed is No 71. Of course, nestboxes springs to mind, but for what? Ducks would have abit of a squeeze getting in, and anyway they seem to manage without this sort of thing elsewhere. Anyone know what they are designed for?

 

Barn Owls?

[AliG]

Think they are owl boxes (for barn owls)

 

Ali

[Mac of Cygnet]

Think they are owl boxes (for barn owls)

 

Ali

 

Sorry, but I have seen barn owls, and there is absolutely no way one could get through the door.

[casper ghost]

A lookout for snitches...

[CanalWalker]

they have them round the L&L in west lancashire, they are for owls.

[AlanJ]

IIRC there was an article about them on a wildlife programme - probably either Springwatch or Autumnwatch and I believe they were for owls.

[magnetman]

they have them round the L&L in west lancashire, they are for owls.

maybe these ones are for Little Owls

[magnetman]

Sorry, but I have seen barn owls, and there is absolutely no way one could get through the door.

 

The Barn Owl Trust recommends a 5" square entrance hole in Barn Owl nesting boxes.

 

I saw some of these pole mounted boxes down the Nene near Wellingborough a few years ago, the sight of the adult barn owl soaring over the field, plucking unsuspecting rodents from the ground and returning them to the nest box with the chicks looking out expectantly was really impressive.

[blackrose]

Sorry, but I have seen barn owls, and there is absolutely no way one could get through the door.

You'd be surprised at the tiny gaps some animals can squeeze through. An owl may look big but a lot of that is feathers which once compressed reduce its apparent size considerably.

[CanalWalker]

the Barn Owl trust says:

Entrance hole: minimum size 100mm x 100mm, optimum size 100mm x 130mm, maximum size 150mm x 150mm.

 

Using Barn Owls for Rodent Control by Tom Hoffman (USA) says

The entrance should be no more than six inches in diameter to keep out great horned owls. I prefer a five inch hole. I even have several boxes with openings less than that, and the owls use them season after season. (In fact, a man I know in Stockton CA, who insists that a hole diameter greater than three and three-fourths inches puts the owls in danger!) The entrance should be located fairly near the floor of the box to provide access for the young, unless you provide a means of enabling the young to scramble up to it, such as cleats or a perch inside the box.

[Guest]

The Barn Owl Trust recommends a 5" square entrance hole in Barn Owl nesting boxes.

 

I saw some of these pole mounted boxes down the Nene near Wellingborough a few years ago, the sight of the adult barn owl soaring over the field, plucking unsuspecting rodents from the ground and returning them to the nest box with the chicks looking out expectantly was really impressive.

I'll bet the unsuspecting rodents were less than impressed

[jelunga]

You'd be surprised at the tiny gaps some animals can squeeze through. An owl may look big but a lot of that is feathers which once compressed reduce its apparent size considerably.

 

That is just like me. I might look big from the outside but inside I am just the skinny 8 year old that I always woz.

 

K

[the grinch]

there was a programme on tv recently where they were installing these for Redkites.

[gaggle]

What looked like owls to me moved in to a local box quick as a flash and then a few weeks later two small heads were poking out , being on the way to pick others up i had no time to film them.

[Mac of Cygnet]

OK, OK, the consensus seems to be owls. I hadn't even considered them, assuming that the expenditure involved in erecting the best part of a hundred of these over a large area must mean some sort of commercial shoot was involved. Round where I live only pheasants would warrant that sort of outlay.

[Christine]

I disagree - see here for: Duck House, just that they have substituted a pole for a tree. Quote from site: Designed to attract: Mergansers, Goosanders, Goldeneye Ducks, and Mandarins. Even Mallards have been known to nest in boxes in trees!

[howardang]

On the Locks and Quays TV programme featuring Mathew Corbett, there was one episode which had an interview with a wildlife bod from BW who spoke about these boxes which had been installed to provide habitat for Barn Owls. I think they have been up for about 2 years or so.

 

I'm sure BW in Leeds will be able to give more details.

 

Howard

[Naughty Cal]

Could they be bat boxes given the small entry?

 

Had to install some on housing developments lately and they look very similar.

[howardang]

Could they be bat boxes given the small entry?

 

Had to install some on housing developments lately and they look very similar.

No- they are definately for barn owls. See the post above.

 

Howard

[Oliver1954]

Interesting subject, Owl Boxes!

Edited September 12, 2009 by Oliver1954