Description
Due to hunting of the eagle owl the number has declined over the years. At one point, this species even disappeared completely in Flanders and the Netherlands. After reintroduction and protection, they have been doing better. Eagle owls are increasingly reappearing and occupying old trees, rock walls, but also the strangest places such as church towers or high masts. In Europe, nest boxes for eagle owls have been used for years. Until now, this has mainly happened in Northern and Eastern Europe, with Latvia, Denmark, Austria and Slovenia as leaders. Because the eagle owl is doing better here, artificial nests can now also be used in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Ecovery does not opt for woven hives or open boxes because nest boxes with a roof offer a greater chance of survival for youngsters during bad weather conditions. This does not alter the fact that hives and open boxes have also demonstrated breeding success.
PLACEMENT
Eagle owls make their nests at very different heights and in exceptional cases even on the ground. Research shows that most nests occur at a height between 6 and 20 m. Possible nest locations are very diverse. They are largely dependent on the food supply. Eagle owls are therefore found in areas where sufficient prey can be found even in winter. Eagle owls often breed on steep walls of sand and clay quarries or on rock walls of, for example, quarries, in tall trees and exceptionally even in church towers, castle towers or high commercial buildings. Eagle owl nests are increasingly being found in the vicinity of rubbish dumps. The nest box is best placed with the large opening to the south.
