Top News

They are one of the most beautiful and unusual species of birds present in the UK. But most of us probably aren't lucky enough to have owls in our gardens.

However, these nocturnal birds are some of the most amazing creatures in our countryside and wildlife fans are always excited if they spot an owl in the wild. If you're a bit fed up of the usual array of robins, pigeons and crows in your garden, there are things you can do to attract owls in your outdoor space, according to garden experts.

Not only is the sight of one of these silent predators a stunning spectacle, but they also target mice and rats, helping to rid your garden of potentially disease-spreading rodents at the same time. According to garden experts at Green Feathers, there are ways you can attract owls to your garden.

They said: "Owls are more likely to come to your garden if there's enough shelter, food, water and hunting perches (e.g. plenty of tall branches to hunt from) to fulfil all of their basic needs.

"Owls typically don't build their own nests, preferring to commandeer the unused nests of other birds or use spaces like tree hollows and even man-made structures to nest and lay their eggs. Barn owls got their name from their tendency to nest in convenient hollows and high places in agricultural buildings, which also gave them access to rats and mice in barns as a reliable food source.

"If you don't live on a farm, you can still attract owls into your garden by creating an appealing nesting spot. Owls will also be particularly tempted if you have a lot of open, grassy space for catching rodents, lots of high spots (like tall trees or buildings) for searching for prey, and a secluded nest in a high place where they can rest, eat and lay their eggs.

"To create your own owl nest, you can use wire to make an open bowl-like shape and then cover this structure with a material like roofing felt. Then, add sticks, twigs and wood chippings to make it more appealing to owls for nesting.

"While larger owls may prefer this open nest structure, many smaller owl species in the UK (such as the little owl) will appreciate an owl nest box. You can either make your own nest box or buy a pre-made one that's already designed for owl use, such as our Handmade Wooden Owl Box or Tawny Owl Box. Our nest boxes and bird boxes are all made from high-quality wood to ensure they stand the test of time, even in damp British weather conditions.

"Our nest boxes are also super easy to install - just make sure you place your bird box at least three metres above the ground if you want to attract owls, and add a material like wood chippings to the floor of the box to make it more cosy for nesting. After your nest box is in place, you'll only need to clear it out roughly once a year to get rid of excess debris and pellets."

Another top tip for attracting owls is to avoid using rat poison. This is because barn owls end up ingesting the poison when they find and kill rats that have eaten the poison, which can build up in owls' systems over time and end up killing them.

Green Feathers adds: "If you want to attract owls into your garden to deal with a rat problem, make sure your garden is free of rat poison and rat traps - trust the owls to handle the issue for you. Never try to use rat poison as well as owls to deal with a rat problem, as you can cause a lot of damage to wild owl populations."

Finally, you should also take steps to avoid excess light in your garden overnight. This is because light pollution will stop owls from visiting your garden because the light stops them from hunting effectively.

They added: "To make your garden more owl-friendly, you need to reduce light pollution at night. Keep lights turned off if possible or invest in motion-activated lighting instead. This will keep your home protected by illuminating shadowy corners if a potential intruder approaches, without disturbing the owls in the area."