When Jordan Lake was created in the '70's and early '80's, it produced a tradeoff of sorts for the bird world. Gone were vast swaths of bottomland forest, open farm fields, and marsh. Prothonotary warblers, wood ducks, and other bottomland species declined precipitously. The sheer size of the newly flooded area, however, became a boon for Bald Eagles and wintering gulls. Jordan Lake, essentially an artificial body of water, has today become one of the top breeding areas for Bald Eagles in the eastern US.
Jordan Lake was created by the development of the B. Everett Jordan dam, a massive project by the Army Corps of Engineers designed to control flooding in the coastal plain. By limiting outflows from the Haw and New Hope river systems, the dam effectively tamed the Cape Fear river to the south and east. The water above the dam has since become a resource for recreation and drinking water, though rarely without controversy.
The habitat surrounding Jordan Lake is dominated by loblolly pine forest, which supports healthy numbers of Brown-headed Nuthatches, along with the nesting Bald Eagles. The lack of large open fields, however, along with encroaching development, make the area largely unsuitable for Barn Owls. In fact, when I initially pored over maps of Jordan Lake, I determined that our nest boxes would be better off elsewhere. The only section with any viable habitat was at the dam itself, way in the southeast corner of Chatham County.
Then I got news that my friend Andrew, while birding at dawn near the dam, had seen two Barn Owls in flight!! That was all the incentive I needed. I contacted Francis Ferrell, who works for the Army Corps, and asked if we could put up some nest boxes at the dam. We then arranged to meet on a Sunday in February to install two boxes.
The weather was perfect for nest box installation, though the ground was still soggy from a recent snowstorm. Francis thought that one box could be situated near the pump station. After showing us the spot, we all agreed that the surrounding habitat was perfect.
Barn owls like two things in particular: open grassland, and proximity to running water. This spot has both. . .the discharge from the dam is only 100 yards away. We quickly had the first box assembled and installed. Pictured below: Francis, Sasha, and Norm.
This box can easily be viewed from atop the dam. On the horizon is steam from the Shearon Harris nuclear facility. The clearcut area in the far background is being converted to longleaf pine and native grasses.
We decided to put the second box on the lake side, just north of the dam. Wintering Barn Owls are known to be fond of open marsh habitat. We quickly found just the right location.
We soon had the second box installed and ready for roosting owls. The visitor's center can be seen across the lake.
Personally, if I were a Barn Owl, I would find this deluxe, lakeside penthouse to be a sweet little pad. Plenty of habitat in all directions, and lots of tiny rodents just waiting to be eaten.
The view in the picture below is from the visitor's center. Squint your eyes, and you might see the second nest box to the left of the distant trees. Might there be a hunting Barn Owl or two out there in the near future?? Scan the grassy areas, and the dam itself, with a good pair of binoculars at dawn or dusk.
The Barn Owls that were recently seen were likely migrating through our area. It's possible, though, that a juvenile pair will find this area enticing, and want to stay. Breeding should be starting very soon. Will a pair of young owls find our nest boxes, and make Jordan dam their home??
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