Lights for owl protection

[phldave]

Everyone, I have read where some have claimed that mounting solar lights that come on at dusk to their site or motion activated lights that shine on the site keep owls away. Please comment if you are using this method, and let us know if this is successful. Thanks

[Whippy]

Dave,

I've read that lights don't have a real effect on the owls. What has worked for a few here is the playing of music below the gourd rack. Owls hunt by sound and they hone in on the sounds of the martins chattering at night. With the music on they can't hear the martins.

Do a quick topic search and put music and owl in the search box. You might find that discussion.

I found it:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=37064&p=297425&hilit=music#p297425


Coolwhips

[brent]

I like the idea of music. Right now though I have 6 medium solar flood lights positioned around my martin houses aimed at clumps of wild flowers and garden and then one brighter flood light aimed at a scarecrow that I put shiny garland around it's neck and arms. Last year I found an owl feather and some martin feathers under a house. But the season was a successful one. So far so good this year. After reading so many opinions I'm not sure what works or not. Basically I'm experimenting. I like the idea of the motion Christmas lights, too. Possibly my next venture. My season is quickly coming to an end with most fledging within the next 2 weeks. I pray it's a good ending. Good luck!
Brent

[brent]

Just some photos to further explain what I'm experimenting with.

[bbspalmer]

Hi Dave, I will just give you my experience. Everything works in the beginning but nothing works completely in the end. I have tried everything you can possible imagine ( lights, flashing lights, laser lights, scarecrows, dancing blowup scarecrows, cages, walking around out around the racks early in the morning when they are coming out to do there dawn singing) and no matter what you do owls will eventually get used to what ever you are doing. You need to make sure you change it up all the time so that doesn't happen. I have seen the owls around my house just fly in from out of nowhere trying to catch a martin when they come out in the morning so I think they are flying around just waiting for them to start coming out in the morning. The cages at least give the martins a chance because the owls used to run into the compartments. What you trying to do is keeping them from completely cleaning you out. Good luck in what ever you try to do. Brett

[daveh]

I've done motion detector lights, scarecrows, wire cages, and leaving the backyard flood lights on all night. Nothing works here. But for some reason I've not had any problems, I think, from mr owl sofar this year. Fingers crossed. Maybe he choked on one of my martins and died. Brett is right. These things may deter for awhile but that's it.

Dave