Screech Owl & Kestrel Nest Box
$135
Spacious raptor sanctuary engineered with slate roof overhang, predator baffle, and bag of native cedar shavings.
- Dimensions19.5" H × 10.5" W × 11.5" D (3.0" hole)
- MaterialsRough-Sawn Cedar with heavy-duty exterior zinc screws
- Warranty5-Year Craftsmanship Guarantee
Built in Texas. Turnkey field delivery and installation available statewide.
Overview
Eastern and Western Screech Owls and American Kestrels are cavity nesters that hunt the rodents and large insects most landowners would rather not have. A single screech owl family can take several hundred rodents across one nesting season, which makes this box unusual among qualifying practices: it satisfies the shelter requirement while providing genuine biological pest control.
Ideal for Eastern & Western Screech Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls, and American Kestrels. Natural rodent control for rural properties and ranches while fulfilling state wildlife shelter requirements.
How this counts toward your 1-d-1 wildlife valuation
Nest boxes are the single most cost-effective way to satisfy the Providing Shelters activity. Unlike brush management or erosion work, boxes are inexpensive, immediately verifiable by an appraisal district inspector, and produce visible results in the first nesting season.
This item supports:
- Providing Shelters
- Predator Control
- Making Census Counts
Texas requires at least three of the seven qualifying wildlife management activities. Highlighted below are the ones this product contributes to:
- Habitat Control
- Erosion Control
- Predator Control
- Providing Supplemental Supplies of Water
- Providing Supplemental Supplies of Food
- Providing Shelters
- Making Census Counts
Qualification is determined by your county Central Appraisal District, and intensity standards vary by ecoregion and property size. Nothing here is tax or legal advice. Confirm your specific activity mix with a certified wildlife biologist before filing.
Placement and density
- Mount boxes 5 to 6 feet above ground on a free-standing pole or metal T-post rather than on a tree or fence line. Poles can be fitted with a predator baffle; trees cannot.
- Face entrance holes north or east. A west-facing hole takes the full force of Texas afternoon sun and can overheat a brood.
- Space bluebird boxes at least 100 yards apart. Bluebirds are territorial and closer spacing leaves boxes unoccupied, which weakens your documentation.
- Pair boxes 15 to 25 feet apart where swallows compete with bluebirds. The pair is typically split between the two species instead of standing empty.
- A useful working density for documentation is one box per 10 to 20 acres, with a practical minimum of six boxes on a small tract.
Annual maintenance
Clean boxes out between late January and mid-February, before the first bluebird clutch. Remove old nesting material, check the predator guard is still seated, and re-tighten the mounting hardware. Photograph each box with a date stamp during the cleanout; that photo set is the evidence your appraisal district will want to see if the valuation is ever questioned.
Log the date, box number, GPS coordinate, species observed and clutch count. Nest box monitoring also generates the observation data that supports the Making Census Counts activity, which means one purchase can underpin two of your three required activities.
Full specifications
| Price | $135 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 19.5" H × 10.5" W × 11.5" D (3.0" hole) |
| Materials | Rough-Sawn Cedar with heavy-duty exterior zinc screws |
| Category | Avian & Nesting |
| Qualifying activity | Supplemental Shelter & Biological Predator Control |
| Warranty | 5-Year Craftsmanship Guarantee |
Common questions
How high should a screech owl box be mounted?
10 to 15 feet, higher than a bluebird box. Screech owls prefer a cavity with a clear flight path in, ideally at a woodland edge or in an open grove rather than deep in dense brush.
Will the same box attract kestrels?
Yes. A 3 inch entrance suits both Eastern and Western Screech Owls and American Kestrels. Which species takes it depends mostly on siting: kestrels favour open country with scattered perches, screech owls favour woodland edge.
Do I need to add bedding?
Yes. Neither species builds a nest, and both lay directly on the cavity floor. Two to three inches of untreated cedar or pine shavings is required. Refresh the bedding at each annual cleanout.
Does an owl box count as predator control?
It can support that activity as biological control of rodents, but do not rely on it as your sole predator control practice. Discuss the framing with your wildlife biologist before it goes into the plan document.
Pairs well with
Need the plan, not just the gear?
Plateau Products supplies the equipment. Wildlife management plans, appraisal district filings and biologist consultations are handled by our sister company, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, which has filed thousands of Texas wildlife management plans since 1997. Request an assessment and we will route you to the right team.