A Southern Indiana father and son used some old wood scraps to build an owl box and the family has found enjoyment in watching the two baby owls that have recently been calling the box home.

Inspiring Facebook Group of Nature Lovers

I am a member of this really cool group of nature lovers on Facebook. While I was scrolling recently, I discovered a post in the group from Vanderburgh County, Indiana resident, Starla McGehee. Starla shared photos in the group of the really cool DIY project that her husband and son build last year - an owl box made out of old wood.

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When I reached out to Starla to ask permission to share with you here, she was excited to share, telling me, "Hopefully it will promote interest in others to go out and do the same for our ecosystem!" In her original post, she said,

My husband and my son built this owl box last year out of some old wood and hung it. This year we know of two babies nesting. It’s been fun watching them!

There is no doubt that building this owl box will be a memory that Starla's son will remember for the rest of his life. Not only was it a great bonding experience, but a wonderful project to benefit our local ecology. Below is a photo of Starla's husband and son, and the DIY owl box that they made using old wood.

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Starla McGehee
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Learning About Owl Boxes

After seeing Starla's photos, I fell into another ADHD rabbit hole to learn everything I could about owl boxes to share with you. Owl boxes are man-made structures that provide nesting and roosting habitats for owls. The boxes can be made from a lot of different materials like wood, PVC piping, and even metal. Owl boxes are typically mounted on poles or trees in open fields or near wooded edges so they can provide shelter for a variety of owl species.

Owl Boxes Are a Popular Way to Help Owl Conservation

Owl boxes have gained in popularity in recent years as a way to help conserve owls, as they face a number of threats including habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. By providing a suitable nesting and roosting site, owl boxes can help support owl populations and promote their recovery. Below you can see a photo of the McGehee's DIY owl box, and one of the baby Barred Owls currently calling it home.

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Starla McGehee
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Owls Are Wonderful for Pest Management

Owl boxes can also have other benefits. For example, by providing a nesting site for owls, these boxes can help to control rodent populations. Many owl species, including Barn Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls, feed on rodents, and by attracting these owls to an area, farmers and gardeners can reduce the damage caused by rodent pests. According to the Farmer's Almanac, an adult pair of owls and their babies can consume 1,000 - 3,000 rodents in just a year's time. Pictured below is a juvenile Barred Owl keeping watch over the McGehee's property in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

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Starla McGehee
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Learn to Make Your Own DIY Owl Box

Owl boxes are a valuable tool for conserving owl populations and promoting biodiversity. By providing nesting and roosting sites, these boxes can help to support owl populations, control rodent pests, and promote a healthy ecosystem. If you've ever wanted to build your own owl box, check out the DIY video below.

If you're looking for a cool outdoor adventure not far from Southern Indiana, check out the Shawnee National Forest. See photos below.

Beautiful Nature Photos from Shawnee National Forest Will Make You Want to Visit Southern Illinois

Take a virtual hike through the area between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers known as the Shawnee National Forest located in Southern Illinois with these stunning photos featuring Garden of the Gods, Tunnel Hill, Giant City Park, Cave in Rock, and more.

 

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