Owls in Michigan: 5 Species to Spot & Tips to Attract or Deter Them (2024)

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If you’re curious about owls in Michigan, you’re in for a treat. Michigan boasts a variety of owl species like the Great Horned Owl and the elusive Northern Saw-Whet Owl. To attract them, install nesting boxes about 10-12 feet high, preserve large tree branches, and provide bird baths.

If owls start visiting your yard, you might hear their unique calls or find owl pellets. To deter them, control rodents, modify habitats, and use visual or auditory deterrents.

Want to uncover more about these fascinating nocturnal creatures and how to welcome—or ward off—them from your yard? Stick around for the details!

Types of Owls in Michigan

Michigan is home to five distinct owl species that you can spot in the wild. These include the Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Long-Eared Owl, Short-Eared Owl, and Northern Saw-Whet Owl, each with unique characteristics and habitats.

Great Horned Owl

You’ll find the Great Horned Owl throughout Michigan, easily recognized by its distinctive ear tufts. These fierce predators hunt at night, using their powerful talons to catch prey.

Listen for their deep "hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo" call echoing in the woods. They’re adaptable nesters, often taking over abandoned nests of other birds.

Despite their strength, Great Horned Owls face conservation challenges due to habitat loss and human activity.

Barn Owl

You’ll recognize barn owls by their distinctive heart-shaped face and ghostly white appearance.

These nocturnal hunters prefer open habitats like fields and grasslands. Their eerie screeches echo through the night as they hunt for rodents.

Barn owls nest in cavities, often in old buildings or trees. Watch for their pellets and whitewash droppings as signs of their presence.

Despite their name, they’re not just found in barns!

Long-Eared Owl

Unlike the Barn Owl, the Long-Eared Owl is a master of camouflage. You’ll find these nocturnal hunters in dense coniferous forests.

Their unique vocalizations and owl pellets can help you identify them. They’re adaptable creatures, often nesting in old crow or hawk nests.

With their striking ear tufts and yellowish-orange eyes, they’re a sight to behold.

Conservation efforts are essential, as habitat loss threatens these fascinating birds.

Short-Eared Owl

Unlike its long-eared cousin, the short-eared owl prefers open habitats. You’ll spot these ground-nesting birds in grasslands and marshes across Michigan.

They’re unique migrants, following their prey’s population booms. Their low, silent flight makes them expert hunters.

Sadly, habitat loss threatens these owls. To help, consider mowing your lawn less often – it’s a win-win for both you and these fascinating birds!

Northern Saw-Whet Owl

The Northern Saw-Whet Owl thrives in diverse Michigan habitats, thanks to its effective camouflage and nocturnal behavior . To attract this owl:

• Install nest boxes
• Provide bird baths
• Maintain natural habitats with minimal disturbance
• Guarantee a rich prey base, such as mice

Conservation efforts are essential for sustaining their population and habitat .

Tips for Attracting Owls

Now that you’re familiar with the types of owls in Michigan, let’s focus on attracting them to your yard. Owls are effective at controlling pest populations and fascinating to observe. Here are some tips to create an inviting habitat:

1. Install Nesting Boxes: Place boxes 10-12 feet high on property perimeters to encourage owl reproduction and provide secure nesting sites.
2. Preserve Large Tree Branches: Owls use these as perches while hunting their prey.
3. Use Timed Outdoor Flood Lights: Minimize light disturbance to make your yard more appealing.
4. Provide Bird Baths: Large bird baths support owls’ hydration needs and attract them for hunting.

These steps enhance your chances of making your yard an owl-friendly environment.

Why Do I Have Owls in My Yard?

Now that you’ve learned how to attract owls to your yard, you might be wondering why they’re there in the first place. Well, it’s likely due to one of these reasons:

• You have a rodent problem: Owls are attracted to areas with high rodent populations, so if you have mice or rats running around, owls might be lurking nearby.
• Your yard offers suitable nesting sites: Owls prefer open spaces for hunting and need suitable nesting sites, such as large trees or nearby buildings.
• You have bird feeders: Bird feeders can attract small birds and animals that owls prey on, making your yard an appealing spot for them.

How to Detect Owls in Your Yard

To detect owls in your yard, listen for distinct owl sounds such as hoots, chirps, and whistles that announce their presence . Look for evidence like owl pellets, white droppings, feathers, and nests often repurposed from other creatures .

Owl Sounds

To detect owls in your yard, focus on recognizing their calls. Listen carefully for different owl vocalizations, such as hoots, chirps, and screeches. Here’s what to pay attention to:

1. Hoots: Often indicate a Great Horned Owl.
2. Chirps: Common in Northern Saw-Whet Owls.
3. Screeches: Sign of a Barn Owl.

Understanding these sounds helps in identifying the owls present.

Pellets

Pellets are compact bundles of indigestible prey remains that owls regurgitate. They reveal the owl’s diet and habitat preferences. Look for them under trees or perch sites, often containing:

• Bones and fur
• Insect exoskeletons
• Small animal skeletons

Examining pellets, you’ll understand local owl species and their prey choices .

Droppings

Now that you’ve checked for owl pellets, let’s move on to another significant sign: droppings. Owl droppings are a thick, white paste-like substance that can be found under their nests or perches. Look for these droppings in areas with high rodent activity, as owls tend to congregate where food is plentiful.

• Check for droppings on tree branches, fence posts, or other elevated areas.
• Be sure to inspect areas with owl nests or owl calls.
• Droppings can be a strong indication of owl presence.

Feathers

Feather detection helps you identify owl presence by observing their unique owl plumage. Here’s what to look for:

• Patterns and coloration differences in feathers
• Types of feathers (contour, down, flight)
• Adaptations like silent flight feathers
• Morphological features such as barbs and barbules
• Indications of molting around perches and nests

Nests

To detect owl nests in your yard, look for reused nests from other creatures, often situated in tree cavities. The nest location might be high on trees or even in nest boxes. Owls use various materials, including feathers, to build. Check these points to find nests:

1. Tree Cavities
2. Nest Heights (10-12 feet)
3. Reused Nests

How to Make Your Yard Less Inviting to Owls

To make your yard less inviting to owls in Michigan, focus on rodent control and habitat modification. Implement visual and auditory deterrents, and consider installing spikes to prevent perching .

Rodent Control

To minimize owl attraction by controlling rodents:

1. Implement rodent control measures: Use non-toxic traps and maintain clean surroundings to discourage rodent infestations .
2. Remove food sources: Secure garbage, store pet food indoors, and limit bird feeder usage .
3. Seal entry points: Close any openings in buildings and trees that might harbor rodents .

Habitat Modification

You’ll deter owls by making your yard less appealing. Habitat modification involves:

• Clearing brush and pruning large branches to disrupt nesting
• Moving bird feeders to reduce food sources for owls’ prey
• Using noise deterrents like wind chimes
• Installing lights on timers to make the area less inviting
• Ensuring pets are secured indoors to avoid attracting owls

Visual and Auditory Deterrents

To make your yard less inviting to owls, you can use visual and auditory deterrents. These deterrents can effectively discourage owls from nesting and hunting in your yard.

• Reflective objects like mylar tape or CDs
• Scarecrows and decoy predators
• Motion-activated lighting to startle owls at night

Implementing these methods can help keep owls at bay .

Install Spikes

To make your yard less inviting to owls, install deterrents like spikes on common perches, such as fences and roof edges. This will encourage them to move along. You can:

• Remove perches by trimming large branches.
• Create obstacles with netting.
• Provide alternatives by installing nesting boxes elsewhere.

Modify the environment to discourage them effectively.

How to Use Netting to Keep Owls Away

To keep owls away using netting, install bird netting over the areas you want to protect. Here’s how:

1. Net Installation: Set up support posts or stakes to create a framework, and secure the netting to these posts with zip ties or twine. Tighten it adequately.
2. Net Maintenance: Secure the bottom edges to the ground with landscape staples or weights. Regularly inspect for any gaps or damage and repair promptly.
3. Cost Effectiveness and Aesthetic Impact: While effective, netting is also cost-efficient compared to other deterrents and has minimal aesthetic impact. Choose small-mesh netting to prevent entanglement, safeguarding bird safety. Monitor the nets consistently to maximize their effectiveness while maintaining the beauty of your yard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)