Bo Howes, current vice-president of New Hope Audubon, just happens to be on staff at Triangle Land Conservancy, a relationship we plan to exploit heavily. He gladly agreed to meet us early on Sunday morning to assist with our Brumley installation. The only stipulation. . .we had to be done before the ACC Championship Game. Carolina would be playing Miami for the basketball title, and priorities are priorities. So we got right to work.
Needless to say, this is the fun part of the installation process. Making the pole mount and assembling the box can be tedious. The logistics of working with public and private landowners takes countless emails and phone calls. When it comes time to actually install a box, spirits are usually high. We pile everything into Norm's Owlmobile (a Toyota Tundra) and go four wheelin' to some pretty cool locations.
It took us minutes to find level ground, and I got busy putting hardwood mulch into the box. Mulch keeps any eggs from rolling about in the box, since Barn Owls don't spend any time fixing up their nesting sites. They prefer their apartments to be fully furnished ahead of time.
Bo and Norm had the glamorous duty of mounting the box to the flange. Installation is fairly easy once you know what you are doing. Facing the box away from prevailing winds is critical, which in this area means aiming the entrance towards the southeast.
Nest box #6 successfully installed!! Here's the finished product, looking out over an open field.
There is also a powerline easement nearby, offering plenty of additional habitat. Powerline easements are renowned for being loaded with cotton rats, mice, and voles. Because Barn Owls hunt low off the ground, there is no risk of the owls becoming ensnared in the powerlines.
The Brumley Tract is not yet open to the public, but it is now open to Barn Owls.
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