[obol] Barn owls

[bettyehunt at aol.com]

Guess this will hit more than a few lists, but I have a question.  I live on the Oregon Coast and have a beautiful barn.  Will I be wasting my time if I install a barn owl nest box?  My checks of the obol lists show very few reports, and none in Lincoln County; but internet research says they are very wide ranging. 
 
All responses will be appreciated.
 
Bettye
Waldport
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy.Nowak at state.or.us
To: birding-l at eou.edu; obol at lists.oregonstate.edu
Sent: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 2:33 PM
Subject: [obol] Barn owls


With apologies for cross postings…
 
I have commented on these lists previously about the almost total absence of short-eared owls on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area (Union County) in 2006.  Although we have seen a few this year, the numbers are no where near those we observed in 2005.  Further, I, along with others, have also noted low numbers of raptors on the ECBC raptor routes in the area.  Yesterday, Dave Larson and I checked several barn owl boxes for eggs or young and found NONE.
 
Barn owls are usually very common on Ladd Marsh.  In fact, last year I found barn owls nesting in wood duck boxes every 100 feet along a row of willows for a total of 4 occupied nests in that location.  We also have several other locations where barn owls nest very close together and they frequently use wood duck boxes.  So far this year we have looked in nest boxes at 7 locations that are “always” occupied and found no signs of nesting activity. WOW!  
 
I find this overall drop in raptor (both nocturnal and diurnal) numbers very interesting.  I suspect a crash in prey populations but it is hard to say with any certainty.
 
M. Cathy Nowak
Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area Biologist
59116 Pierce Road
La Grande, OR 97850
541-963-4954
 
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