bats? (1 Viewer)

[DougL]

So I've put up a screech owl nest box. Looking forward to getting some residents. Highly squirrel-proof. There are many screech owls in the neighborhood. Now I understand there is some risk of other birds occupying the nest box. How does one discourage that? Also, we have a horde of resident Mexican freetail bats, and people around here have bathouses aplenty, that look a lot like bird nesting boxes. Is that a risk, that bats will move in?

 

[nofair]

maybe consider adding some ventilation holes that are just big enough for owls but too small for other species. And covering the entrance temporarily until nesting season might help owls find it first.

 

[DougL]

Well, screech owls are just as large as many other species. True, our bats don't move in until late spring, which is after the start of Screech Owl nesting. Makes sense to block off the nest before Screech Owl nesting season, which is around now, and lasts until August.

 

[Elkhornsun]

Bat nesting boxes are completely different and have inner partitions about an inch apart for the bats to move into and keep warm as they bunch up. The only worry with a screech owl nest is from great horned owls who kill the birds and from squirrels that can take over the box for their own needs.