A special interest group of the Sabino Springs Nature Club is available to assist our neighbors with installing Screech Owl nesting boxes on our properties. This group was formed after the presentation “Owls and Raptors of Sabino Springs” on October 24, 2023. Click here to learn more about that presentation.
Mission:
To increase the Western Screech Owl and Kestrel population by providing nesting boxes intended to mitigate the rodent population around Sabino Springs homes encouraging a natural balance of nature.
For more information, contact Kat at nature@sabino-hoa.com.
Here are notes from our meeting with Olya Weekley, the Applied Conservation Project Manager at the Tucson Audubon Society, on December 4, 2023.
- owls are already in our neighborhood so nesting boxes would provide additional roosting and homes for them, as well as other small cavity nesters
- Screech Owl nesting boxes can also be a home for American Kestrals, who also consume rodents
- fall is the recommended time for putting them up but anytime will suffice
- if/when the HOA adds nesting boxes in the Natural Open Space, allow nest boxes that are already there on private properties to stay. Being redundant with nests is the best policy versus cleaning out other species.
- 3 inch openings to welcome American Kestrals or Western Screech Owls
- Eastern exposure is the first choice, northern next
- mount in tree with shade if possible, but on side of your house or a pole is also acceptable.
- if using a pole, a round metal pole is preferred. A downward-facing cone near the base will deter snakes
- place 7-10 feet off ground for Screech Owls, 15 for Kestrals (measured from bottom of box)
- there should not be a perch on the front of nesting box, or branches outside. Those might allow bobcats from reaching the nest.
- position so that the flight path is free of obstructions
- lights don’t seem to deter owls. In fact, lights might attract insects and illuminate nocturnal rodents
- recommend adding two ventilation hole on each side of box
- clean yearly
- use pine shavings or small pet bedding inside (boxes purchased from Tucson Audubon include this)
- add ivory bar soap to ceiling edges to prevent bees from using as a home
- the Audubon shop (300 E. University Blvd, #120) sells premade boxes for $65.00. Fully assembled, no tax, no shipping
- the Habitat at Home certification program includes bat, butterfly and pollinator homes
- Click here if you are interested in building your own using plans from Audubon.org
Future
- we hope to put a camera inside one nesting box so residents can watch a family of owls grow, and identify at a personal level about the importance of not using rodenticides
- protection of other species of cavity nesters included in the HOA’s Open Space Protection Plan (OSPP)
- Olya is connected with Harris Environmental Group, who is under contract to the C&LM committee to create the OSPP
- monitor number of boxes installed with location, number that have nesting pairs, maybe number of birds
Resources:
- All About Birds – Western Screech Owl call
- The recording of “The Owls and Raptors of Sabino Springs” by Dan Weisz on Oct 24, 2023 for the community
- The 13 Owls of Arizona from AVIBIRDS
- Information on various cavity-nesters and the boxes from the Tuscon Audubon Society
- Predator guards
- Rodenticide info brochure (free to print and distribute)
- YouTube Presentation on Tiny Raptors.
- Days of Owl Lives – video compilation from Tuscon Audubon’s live camera.
- Live stream of Tuscon Audubon’s owl nestbox (currently empty).
- Habitat at Home resources including Bee info.