Installing wooden artificial nests (nest boxes) for the Barn owl in the rural countryside is of outmost importance, as the natural breeding places in buildings of the rural landscape, are continuously decreasing.

In Thessaly alone, out of 50 villages that were key areas for the population of Barn owl, the traditional old buildings in which the species has been breeding since 2000 have now been reduced by 50%.

The most important factors for the adoption of a nest box by the Barn owl are the following: detailed technical construction, appropriate materials, necessary adjustments per geographical area, strategic location selection.

When constructing a nest box, friendly materials should be chosen, such as wood, which is resistant to the weather conditions of the countryside. It should, also, be made of marine plywood and should be painted with eco-friendly materials.

The nest boxes can be placed inside or outside buildings and warehouses, on trees or poles in order to achieve the necessary spatial positioning in an agricultural area that faces rodent issues. In case the nest boxes are exposed to weather conditions such as wind, sun and rain, they must also have protective canopies. 

The Civil Society Organization "TYTO" has refined the construction of two types of nest boxes, the “British” and the “Swiss” types, by making adjustments for greater success in both installation and adoption of the species. These adjustments render the nest boxes suitable for the Greek countryside. Both types of these nest boxes can be placed with the corresponding adjustments on iron poles in the agricultural areas. In the latter case, they must have double canopies.

The nest boxes must have an inspection wicket, so that the field researchers can easily inspect and work on the individuals in order to obtain biometric information, to keep a research protocol, to ring both adults and chicks, causing the least possible nuisance. The inspection wicket is also important for the cleaning of the nest box from the pellets debris, that must take place early every winter during the period December - January.

The nest boxes’ monitoring and inspection, should be performed by experts with knowledge and the relevant official license, as the careful handling will allow the species to continue using the box for a long time, which is the ultimate goal of installing nest boxes. Improper handling by non-specialists or mishandling of nest boxes at the wrong time can lead to the species abandoning the artificial nest, and even worse, abandoning an on-going developing breeding effort.. 

When Barn owls occupy a nest box for the first time, this is an important and emotional moment. It’s the exact time that science, practice, biology of a wildlife species, and the optimal coordination between human management of natural capital and unique ecosystem services provided by the Barn owl -this emblematic species of our agricultural areas-, join forces. 

Depending on the specifications of your area, we can together identify and suggest the appropriate nest box for your area and your infrastructure.