UPDATE: If you found your way here after my recent Owls of the Tristate presentation I gave at the 2024 Ohio River Valley Woodand and Wildlife Landowner workshop, you are in the right place! 🙂 Below are the resources I mentioned during the presentation. Enjoy!
Hello Wild Side Readers!
If you caught my last post, you’ll know that this year’s Farm Science Review is virtual and all educational materials and presentations will be available starting next week. Check out my last post for more info and the schedule of Gwynne Conservation Area Presentations.
One of the Gwynne presentations is called Owls of Ohio. In the video I created, I promised to provide additional resources for attracting owls to your property. Below is a list of additional resources on owls. Enjoy!
Owl Life History Resources:
Ohio Division of Wildlife Owls of Ohio Field Guide
Barn Owl Population Status Report
Barn Owl Nest Box Plans and Placement Guides – both of the below guides are great!
Nesting Platform Plans for Great-horned owls
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds – more info about each owl species
Nest Box Resources:
Nest box specifications and placement recommendation for screech owls, wood ducks, and more – HERE.
Ohio Division of Wildlife Attracting Birds of Ohio – nest box plans for screech owl
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch – tips and plans for nest boxes for birds
Management for Owls Resources:
OSU Extension Fact Sheet – Dead Trees for Wildlife
NC State Extension Working with Wildlife – Owls
Presentation on Dead Wood for Wildlife – Ohio Woodland Stewards’ Friday Escape to the Forest Webinar Series
- Info on creating and maintaining den trees and snags & constructing brush piles
General Management Recommendations for Forest & Open Habitats for Raptors (including owls)
Managing Forest Birds in Southeast Ohio
Managing Small Forest Patches for Birds
Recommended Apps:
- Merlin, Cornell Lab of Ornithology – listen to bird calls (including owls), life history info, song/call ID
- Audubon Bird Guide
Recommended Books:
- Hawks at a Distance – Jerry Liguori
- Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America
- Birds of the Prey of the Midwest Field Guide – Stan Tekiela
- Crossley’s ID Guide: Raptors – Richard Crossley
Marne Titchenell
Wildlife Program Specialist
In Ohio, short-eared owls can be seen during winter hunting over open fields and grasslands.