Plastic or wood owl box? Ask a biologist…

Should I use a plastic bird house, or plastic owl nesting box?

The Answer = Wood

Biologist Carrie Wendt at UC Humboldt studied the habitation rates of barn owls in wood vs. plastic nesting boxes. The findings proved “Owls were more likely to occupy nest boxes if they were constructed of wood, facing north and positioned higher. Placing well-designed nest boxes in optimal habitat can boost nest box occupancy rates, which may help farmers reduce rodent pests and increase regional barn owl populations.

Link: Examining barn owl nest box selection at three spatial scales on Napa Valley vineyards | ScholarWorks (calstate.edu)

Alternatively, consider your own preference, if you were an owl, would you prefer living in a wood or plastic owl box?

The environment as a global whole does not benefit from increasing amounts of contamination from plastics, including microplastics. Using plastic avian nest box habitats contributes to plastic pollution. Talons, beaks, disposal etc, all make for micro plastic and macro plastic pollution. Your farm, vineyard, shared open space, yard, etc. are fundamentally better off with a wood habitat instead of plastic. It’s indisputably better, but don’t take our word for it…

We still are the only company in California manufacturing 100% wood barn owl boxes at scale, and fortunately see less plastic versions in the field than several years ago. Further, we source our materials from domestic (or Canadian if needs be) lumber producers.