Owl Condos at Bokisch Ranches

This is a barn owl that has made its home in one of the owl boxes we installed in our vineyards.

The requirements to installing an owl box are very precise.  The owl boxes should be painted white to keep the house cool.  They must be placed about 14 feet high above the vineyard, mounted on smooth steel poles which do not allow predators to climb up into the nest.  In addition, the door hole of the boxes must fact northeast to decrease the amount of sunlight penetrating into the box during the day when they sleep.  These "owl condos" also have two rooms inside; one is for laying the eggs and sleeping, the other is for stretching their legs and wings as the youngling grow up.  The nicest boxes have perches to teach the baby owls balance.