Where Is a Good Place for a Garden Owl?

Plastic garden owls offer temporary protection.

While birdwatching is a favorite pastime for many homeowners, unwanted flocks of birds soon become messy, loud pests. They decimate gardens and litter decks, windowsills and patios. Plastic garden owls aren't a reliable remedy, but with proper placement they can keep feathered pests at bay.

Placement

Owls often perch on high branches or poles for a better view of prey.

Many manufacturers design plastic garden owls with multiple mounting options, including pole mounting, platform mounting or hanging from a line. Because pests respond to behavior as much as appearance, use a mounting option to set the owl as high as possible and away from buildings. Raptors hunt from above, and a high placement mimics hunting patterns.

Eaves

Use fishing line to hang a plastic owl from your home's eaves to discourage woodpeckers or other roosting birds. Keep in mind that plastic garden owls are not a long-term solution. Use garden owls in conjunction with other repellents if roosting birds return.

Movement

A garden owl with prey, while not attractive, is more effective than an unadorned model.

Animals are adaptable and quickly become accustomed to an immobile owl, often within hours. Laura Kammin, from the University of Illinois Extension, suggests moving a plastic owl to a new location every other day. For the best results, mount the owl on a movable weather vane and add a model of a captured prey bird with loose, mobile wings to the owl model. The wind-powered movement will keep pests wary.

References

• University of Nebraska - Lincoln: Digital Commons: Scarecrows and Predator Models for Frightening Birds from Specific Areas
• Pigeon Control Resource Centre: Prowler Owl
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Woodpeckers: Control Methods

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: Pigeons