Do:

• Be safe, wear protective gear and have a friend hold the ladder!
   

• Place the nest box where it is sheltered from wind and rain, and is not in full sun.  In the southwest of WA, facing the entry hole in an easterly or south easterly direction away from cold southwesters and full northern sun is suggested.  Owls sometimes roost in outbuildings, so if you know you have them perching in buildings you might also try a nest box in a quiet corner.
   

• Locate the box with a clear flight path to and from the landing platform, and well above predator access – cats in particular hunt chicks.  If you can, fit a climbing barrier to the tree or trunk you have hung your nest box in, this may also discourage possums from taking up residence if you only want an owl.
   

• Fix the nest box at least 4m above ground and 5 – 6m if you can.  The higher up the safer they will be.  Each HabitART box is different, so fixing options will depend on your design.  Generally multi-strand wire can be used to tie the box to a trunk.  Thread it through retic pipe to prevent ringbarking and leave enough wire so you can loosen the tie as the trunk grows.  For heavy boxes and extra stability, you should also attach and angle bracket to the base to support the weight.  For some box types, you can screw them directly to the tree - or a building if you have a suitable location.
   

• Expect that it will take a while before your owls find their new nest, sometimes nesting boxes have to age a little so they seem less strange so expect a season or two before they use the box.  You may also need to try a different location if your box is not being used.  Avoid locations with light shining into the box or a lot of daytime activity.
   

• Regularly check feral (honey) bees or ants have not moved in.  Your box has been designed with an air gap at the top or a metal roof to discourage bees, but they can be aggressive hollow invaders.  If you have a continuing problem with bees in the box, attaching insulation wool to the box ceiling makes it hard for bees to fix honeycombs and may help deter them.
   

• Your Owl nest box is made of recycled and up-cycled materials so will need maintenance from time to time.  Check for splits and cracks once a year and fill with no-more-gaps (NOT silicon) so the box stays warm and dry.  Oil the exterior with Linseed oil or other non-toxic oil.  Check the interior for chewing damage and sharp edges and the attachments to make sure it’s still fixed securely.  You can add fresh bedding after chicks have fledged.  A soft bed of peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) leaves or sheoak needles makes a nice nesting base. Make sure you can access the box safely and wear gloves to protect yourself from any sharp edges.

Please do not:

• Use rodent poisons – and in particular single dose types.  Rodenticides that kill after a single feed leave rats easily caught while ill, often with a stomach full of still-active poison, which when ingested by an owl is usually fatal.  Poisons which kill only after several small meals MAY be safer, but if you can, avoid poisons altogether and let your owls help you manage rodents.  Your pets and other native animals will thank you too.
   

• Disturb or handle chicks.  Sometimes young owls will appear ‘lost’ but are just practicing flying and the parent will continue to watch and feed them.  If they are on a road or in immediate danger, carefully place them on a nearby branch in a sheltered spot.  Only ‘rescue’ young owls if you are absolutely sure they have been abandoned and contact your local wildlife carer first.
   

• Move or maintain your nest box in the breeding season (Spring and early Summer), as the eggs and chicks will not survive the disturbance.