According to many researchers and farmers, it is fairly easy to attract barn owls to fields, orchards, or vineyards by constructing nest boxes. Grower Success Merced County farm advisor Lonnie Hendricks reported that several almond growers have drastically reduced gopher populations in orchards by installing barn owl nest boxes. One such grower, Bill Genn of Hilmar, had orchards so badly infested with gophers that his flood irrigation water often spilled onto neighbor's land from gopher holes at the edge of the orchard. Genn was advised to install nesting boxes for owls in trees and on poles near the orchard. Hawks Hawks can also aid in vertebrate pest management.
Hawks eat meadow mice, small birds, grasshoppers and other insects.
To encourage hawks, whose presence also frightens starlings and other pest bird species, some farmers install perches and nest boxes near their crops. Perches may be especially important in winter and early spring to aid hawks in spotting food sources before the rodents' breeding season, and when many crops are either absent or provide little cover. Kestrel Houses Kestrels prefer to nest in dead trees and other crevices, but also use secluded buildings and wood raptor houses. Open fields, meadows and fence rows are good locations for kestrel houses. Houses can be mounted on utility poles, buildings, lone trees or posts.