Attracting Tawny and Little Owls (1 Viewer)

[stuart scott]

Hello all....
I'm new to this site, and especially pleased to see a forum area all to do with owls.
I've enjoyed watching owls for many years and even lived with a damaged Tawny when I was about 13 (Ollie the Owl stayed with my parents 'on holiday' when its carers had to go away at times ...as did Clarisa the one winged herring gull, and too many other birds to list).

Anyway my long winded question is, are there any 'tricks' to attracting Tawny and Little Owls to come to a certain spot, for photography purposes.
I know owls tend to be creatures of habit and can use the same post/perch, but how about encouraging them to settle on a certain post ??
Would meat stuck to a post near a known owl nests/haunt work ?
I've heard that squeaking polystyrene packaging can get Little Owls interested.... any other hints, noises, calls, people know of ?

Also, would a hide near the perch make much difference? I've usually not bothered trying to be too camouflaged when viewing owls since they tended to be relaxed and sleepy......would camouflage like a hide fool them or be needed?
thanks
Stuart

 

[CJW]

Hello Stuart and welcome to Birdforum from all the Moderators and Admin. Staff
I'm sure one of our photography experts will be along with a few suggestions shortly.
To my mind, however, I think developing your field craft and observing the birds you wish to photograph over a period of time is better than the quick fix of luring birds to you.

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stuart,

Welcome to BirdForum!

Tawnies are easy to attract close to you at night if you imitate their hoot, I've had them land on branches 3m above my head (even though I've been in full view of the owl, in pre-dawn half-light), and fly less than 1m past my face.

Not sure about Little Owls, I've never tried attracting them before.

Michael

 

[StevieEvans]

Hi Stuart.

Welcome, nice to see a new owl fan is with us.

Im sure there are Very Many ways in which you can encourage owls & other wild birds near to you, but personally i would not advocate this type of activity during the (Now) breeding season....

As CJ says try a bit of carefull field work, especially at the moment, you should be able to find Little Owls no prob's any time during June&July.

If You do need expert help, there's a guy who uses this site called Nigel Blake, he's the Man when it comes to owl pic's....(view some of his gallery pics)

Hope you get some good 4-toes.

Stevie.

 

[stuart scott]

Hi Stuart.

Im sure there are Very Many ways in which you can encourage owls & other wild birds near to you, but personally i would not advocate this type of activity during the (Now) breeding season....

Stevie.

Yeah good point ! I am more than a little uncomfortable about the use of calls and noises at anytime, to attract birds, which is why I've never done it before.. preferring placing natural food to get their interest.
I've found a number of nest sites around where I live, and over the years followed both Little and Tawny owls bring up their young....I suppose I was after a quick fix ...its just they seem to wing it when I get close to their perch sites, and I don't want to hang around their nest area.
Thanks to the others for info and advice too....

Stu

 

[Michael Frankis]

Im sure there are Very Many ways in which you can encourage owls & other wild birds near to you, but personally i would not advocate this type of activity during the (Now) breeding season....

Just mentioning that when I've called up Tawnies, it has usually been on 1st January (to get one for the year list ), not in the breeding season

Michael

 

[ashrich]

My bird table used to be regularly frequented by Tawnies after the cat brought " presents " home , usually in the form of mice , rats , field voles and half versions of the listed rodents ( tail , back legs and spleen ) . We just popped them on the table and watched as the birds came down with young ones and stuffed themselves , sometimes even before it was dark . After the demise of said cat the supply dried up , didn't think it was fair to deliberately catch them , although I have emptied the mousetrap on the table occaisionally when the little blighters invite themselves into my kitchen in the autumn !!
Ashley.

 

[nigelblake]

If you want to attract Tawny, Barn and Little owls to a spot, one of the best baits is chocolate, not for the owls of course but it really will pull in small rodents. I have a site where I place grain and grated chocolate inder a 18inch square board that is supported on inch and a half high blocks of wood, skewered to the ground. The baiting site is next to some chosen perches which can be changed so that I get images of owls in different settings, Owls are now used to finding prey as the rodents go to and fro to the bait area, Barn Owls in particular are quite lazy hunters and will hunt from a perch if at all possible, (they will come to the site in daylight) I also get a regular Kestrel in daytime. It will however take a few weeks for the site to get established and needs regular visits to stock.
Why chocolate? this was as a result of talking to a pest control man who said that chocolate was the best bait to put on mouse-traps, I half-heartedly tried it, thinking it would not work, but believe me it does. You will need to use a hide at such a feeding station.

 

[stuart scott]

Nigel, and others, thanks for the info.....I never really thought of making a feeding station for owls. A very interesting idea.
Suppose its best kept away from the usual peanut and lard feeding station for small birds though
I see you have an article in Sept issue of Birdwatching on Owls....I'm looking forwards to it.
Stuart