Screech Owl House Plans

Essential Aspects of Screech Owl House Plans

Screech owls are small, nocturnal birds of prey that are found in a variety of habitats across North America. They are known for their distinctive hooting calls, which they use to communicate with each other. Screech owls are also very adaptable birds, and they can be found in both urban and rural areas. As a result, they are a popular choice for people who want to attract owls to their property.

If you are interested in building a screech owl house, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to choose the right location for the house. Screech owls prefer to nest in cavities in trees, so you will need to find a suitable tree on your property. The tree should be at least 10 feet tall and have a diameter of at least 6 inches. The cavity should be at least 6 inches deep and 4 inches wide.

Once you have chosen a location for the house, you need to gather the materials you will need. You will need the following:

1 piece of 1/2-inch plywood, cut to 12 inches by 12 inches
1 piece of 1/4-inch plywood, cut to 12 inches by 12 inches
1 piece of 1-inch by 2-inch pine, cut to 12 inches long
1 piece of 1/2-inch by 1-inch pine, cut to 12 inches long
1 piece of 1/4-inch hardware cloth, cut to 12 inches by 12 inches
1 package of 1-inch wood screws
1 tube of wood glue
A drill
A screwdriver
A saw
A hammer
A level

Once you have gathered the materials, you can begin building the house. First, you need to assemble the frame of the house. To do this, you will need to attach the 1-inch by 2-inch pine to the 12-inch by 12-inch piece of 1/2-inch plywood. The 1-inch by 2-inch pine should be placed around the edge of the plywood, and it should be flush with the edges of the plywood. Once the frame is assembled, you need to attach the 1/4-inch plywood to the frame. The 1/4-inch plywood should be placed on the inside of the frame, and it should be flush with the edges of the frame.

Once the house is assembled, you need to create the entrance hole. To do this, you will need to drill a 2-inch hole in the center of the front of the house. The entrance hole should be placed about 6 inches from the bottom of the house.

Once the entrance hole is created, you need to attach the hardware cloth to the front of the house. The hardware cloth should be placed over the entrance hole, and it should be attached to the house with wood screws. The hardware cloth will help to keep predators out of the house.

Once the hardware cloth is attached, you need to paint the house. The house should be painted with a dark color, such as brown or black. The dark color will help to camouflage the house and make it less visible to predators.

Once the house is painted, you can install it in the tree. To do this, you will need to drill a hole in the tree about 6 feet above the ground. The hole should be large enough to accommodate the house. Once the hole is drilled, you can insert the house into the hole. The house should be flush with the tree trunk.

Once the house is installed, you can wait for the screech owls to move in. Screech owls typically nest in the spring, so you should see them in the house by the end of April or the beginning of May.