Barn owls are making a comeback in Ohio, and more people every year have the pleasure of witnessing these beautiful birds. They are often observed during summer months when adults are actively feeding nestlings in barns, silos, and similar structures. We rely on reports of barn owl nests to help track population trends for this state threatened species. If you observe or receive a report of an active barn owl nest, please report it at wildohio.gov/reportwildlife or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.
To combat barn owl population declines, the ODNR Division of Wildlife began installing barn owl nest boxes across the state. Nest boxes were monitored annually to determine the number of barn owls nesting in the state. Boxes were also cleaned out in the winter to ensure barn owls can use the boxes. Barn owl populations began to rebound thanks to the nest box program. http://ow.ly/18dx30k9hJe