Attracting Birds of Prey for Rodent Control, Contact Your Local Extension Agent, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Or Soil and Water Conservation District

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Attracting Birds of Prey for Rodent Control, Contact Your Local Extension Agent, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Or Soil and Water Conservation District Attracting Birds of Prey Living on for Rodent Control The Land Rodents are common pests for farmers boxes. They and gardeners. Most people who have tried don’t show growing a crop know the damage these pesky strong territorial creatures cause. instincts and Conventional methods of rodent control sometimes nest include trapping, poison baits, or destroying in colonies. So, tunnels. These techniques are labor intensive you can put up and costly, and can harm non-target species. barn owl nest They may even be outlawed in some areas. boxes as close As environmental awareness increases, as several yards many people are looking for other methods of apart. www.barnowls.com ©2003, Bert Kersey, Used with permission. rodent control. One excellent option in areas Barn owls will not harm game birds like where there are large rodent populations is to pheasants or quail and are not a threat to attract their natural predators. chickens or cats. Raptors are a group of predatory birds You can find more information about including hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. the habits and needs of barn owls at these These birds often prey upon rodents. websites: Raptors alone don’t completely eliminate Barn Owl (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) a rodent problem. But, attracting raptors Barn Owl (Audubon) as part of an integrated pest management Barn Owl (State of Montana Field Guide) strategy can reduce the cost of conventional control methods. And, it’s a rewarding, American Kestrel environmentally-friendly way to reduce rodent The American kestrel is the smallest populations. falcon in North America (about the size of There are many important and useful a mourning dove). It has a diverse diet, but predatory birds in Oregon. Two of the its main foods are most important for controlling rodents in rodents and insects. agricultural lands are barn owls and kestrels. It also eats small Kestrels hunt by day, and barn owls hunt at birds, so if you are night. attracting songbirds to your land, kestrels Barn Owl are not the best The barn owl has been called the “cat with choice. wings.” This beneficial bird preys on rodents, Kestrels readily particularly gophers, mice, and voles. A take to nest boxes, family of barn owls eats about 3,000 gophers but they are highly each year. An adult will catch and eat 10 to territorial. Be sure 12 gophers per night while brooding, between to place nest sites March and July. at least half a mile Gillson, http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/ © Greg Used with permission. Barn owls are about the size of a small cat, apart. but only weigh a pound. Their wings have soft For more information on the American fringe-edged feathers and a slow, silent flight kestrel, refer to these publications: that makes them especially efficient at catching American Kestrel (USDA Natural Resources unsuspecting rodents. Conservation Service) Barn owls have adapted to man-made American Kestrel (Oregon State University structures like barns, attics, silos, and nest Extension Service) EC 1641 December 2012 How to Attract Raptors All things considered, if you want to Suitable habitat for raptors includes food, attract and rely on raptors for rodent control, cover and nest sites, water, and perches from it’s safest to forego the use of poison baits which to hunt. The key factor that limits most altogether. raptor populations is suitable nest sites. Concerns About Health and Nest boxes and perches can increase raptors’ success in places that lack nest, Safety roosting, and hunting sites. For centuries, It’s best to clean out nest boxes at least humans have successfully attracted raptors to once a year, but be sure to take precautions to help control pests by providing perches and avoid exposure nest boxes in areas that offer enough food, to germs. Barn cover, and water. owls regurgitate For more information, refer to these owl pellets that publications: contain the Artificial Nesting Structures (USDA Natural undigested hair Resources Conservation Service) and bones of The Wildlife Garden: Build Nest Boxes for their prey. Along box. nest Barn owl Natural Maestas, © Jeremy Service. Conservation Resources Used with permission. Wild Birds (Oregon State University Extension with pellets, nest boxes may hold uneaten Service) rodents. This debris in an owl nest box can be infected with diseases harmful to humans. Be Monitoring and Maintenance sure to wear rubber gloves and a dust mask Once you have a plan to attract raptors, when cleaning out a nest box. Shilah Olson, be sure to monitor the plan’s success and If you think you’ve found a sick or injured Conservation raptor, don’t approach it. Instead, contact your Planner, Wasco keep your nest boxes in good condition. Also, County Soil & monitoring and maintenance can help you local state wildlife agency or U.S. Fish and Water Conservation take care of problems before they become Wildlife Service office. All owls, hawks, and District, OR serious, such as starlings taking up residence eagles are federally-protected species. Only Karen Lamson, in nest boxes intended for raptors. licensed individuals may handle or keep them, Conservation although most states have “good Samaritan Planner, Wasco County Soil & Concerns about Pesticide Use laws” that allow the public to transport injured Conservation If you want to attract wild raptors, be wildlife to a licensed rehabilitation facility. District, OR careful with rodenticides. Poison baits that Keep in mind that it’s common in spring Mike Omeg, Omeg contain anticoagulants will kill a rodent in 3 to to see fledgling raptors on the ground or on Orchards, Wasco County, OR 10 days due to internal bleeding. During this low branches, because they are still learning time, the poisoned rodent may be eaten by how to fly. The parents keep feeding them Brian Tuck, Oregon State University a raptor. Depending on how many poisoned outside of the nest at this stage. They are not Extension Service, rodents a raptor eats, it too can become ill and abandoned and are usually not in any physical Wasco County die. distress. It’s best to leave them alone and let the Susan Kerr, If you decide to use poisonous baits, then parents keep feeding them. It’s an important Washington State take all necessary precautions to ensure that part of their early learning and development of University Extension, Klickitat County children, domestic animals, and non-target hunting skills. wildlife can’t eat or come in contact with the Ellen Hammond, Water Quality poisonous bait or poisoned rodents. Specialist, Oregon Department of Agriculture For more information on attracting birds of prey for rodent control, contact your local Extension agent, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Soil and Water Conservation District. Technical and financial assistance is available for landowners wishing to address resource concerns on their property. The phrase “Living on The Land” is used with permission from Living on The Land Stewardship for Small Acreage, © 2008, UNCE/WSARE. Listen to our © 2012 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Living on The Land Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials podcasts without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, at iTunes U. sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Published December 2012..
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