Description
PLACEMENT
Place the nest in a sturdy fork of a tree with an unobstructed flight path.
Fill the nest about halfway with small twigs, forest soil or leaves, making sure the nest is securely attached to the tree. For the long-eared owl, the nest is placed in conifers with a height of minimum 4 meters, these provide the most shelter.
They breed in forest edges, in parks or large gardens near open landscapes. For the Hobby, the nest is often placed in high poplars at a minimum height of 10 m. Hobby use the same nesting site for many years in succession. So it may take a while before one comes to the nest, but once there is a pair, they keep returning. If the nest is placed for the Eurasian Hobby it can also be mounted on high-voltage pylons.
MAINTENANCE
The nest can be checked annually in the autumn for strength and any branch material can be supplemented.
