We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
4215 NW 16th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32605
Phone: (352) 381-1997
Fax: (352) 381-1995
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Those boisterous and cacophonous “monkey-like” owl vocalizations beginning shortly after sunset are attributable to the Barred Owls and here’s what it’s doing: Barred Owls usually begin laying eggs in December but begin redefining the boundaries of their large territories and reinforcing the bonds between mated pairs earlier in the fall.
The Barred Owl’s vocalization is usually characterized as “Who-cooks-for-you?-Who-cooks-for-you-all?”
Barred Owls will use nesting boxes but they don’t usually give up natural cavities once a suitable one is occupied. Barred Owl nesting boxes are available by special order at WBU.
Of the four other species of owl that breed in Florida, the Great Horned Owl is probably the most familiar. Great Horned Owls also begin laying eggs in December, even a little earlier than Barred Owls. They have a powerful call but it is not nearly as loud as the Barred Owl. Listen for a low, moaning, and fairly monotonous “hoo-ho-ho-hoo, hoo-hoo.”
Great Horned Owls will not use nesting boxes. Eastern Screech Owls, however, are more common and often use nesting boxes. Screechies are our smallest owl and so their nesting boxes are always the most affordable.
Screech owls are extremely secretive and their soft, repetitive, and eerie hooting calls are much quieter than any of our other species. So, while there may be screechies around us, we seldom know it.
Barn Owls also use nesting boxes but may be the rarest breeding bird in Alachua County. As with the other species, inquire at the store about your likelihood of hosting an owl on your property and the proper way to establish an owl nesting box.
We also have a number of audio field guides available by which you can learn to identify owls to species, age, and sex.
