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Entry Canopies: protected portal at the  edge of the danger & delight of the Outside World

Why? Both BuOw adults & chicks spend a lot of time hanging around the burrow entrance. A spacious, shady entry provides a safe, comfortable refuge from sun and aerial predators. Check out the Canopy Grid for your choices at-a-glance.
Is it worth the trouble? I think so. Will our canny little friends always take advantage of this fine amenity when it’s available? Of course not! That would be too easy. They may perch on instead of under it or cede it to a neighboring squirrel (sigh). Still, they’re cheap to make and reports persist of owls getting picked off before they can squeeze into the safety of the tunnel.
Using some kind of expanded entry and 4” pipe has all the advantages of large diameter pipe without the expense and there’s no need to fuss with installing a size restrictor to keep out skunks and such. I’ve only had two season’s experience, but I’m sold.
Materials? In searching for an inexpensive substitute for the pipe increasers others have used, I first tried a “gallon” black nursery pot. Chicks will use it, but it’s a pain to make. I’ve had much better luck with larger diameter pots, buckets & salvaged drain pipe. These need to be covered. Scrap carpet or soil & rocks both work fine. I’ve even make a presentable model using a couple of old fence boards. Reports from Florida of a miniature pole barn that was a success there inspired me to try a tiny gazebo made of earth-toned carpet, a couple pieces of wire & a stick is also a hit.
Make it plain or fancy as you wish, but be sure it’s functional and photogenic. Photographers can spread the word about these charming little birds if we lure them with installations that are fitting frames for the owls’ stunning beauty.
Examples? Check out the photos on this page and enlist your imagination to come up with your own creations. Consider what hazards the canopies will have to withstand in your project and build to suit. Anchoring the canopies requires ingenuity &/or rocks or a dose of both. Rain does a number on soil alone.
Of all the parts of a burrow, I find these the most fun to make. Enjoy yourself!

Make it!!

Make It!

Precedent? Take a close look at the clip linked at the right and you’ll see a chick fine-tuning a squirrel-hole-burrow entrance. I’d wondered what the attraction was for this burrow sandwiched between jogging and golf cart paths and directly under a tree. Perhaps the spacious entrance is a key. Making entry canopies with dirt floors gives chicks the same opportunity for kicking up their heels.

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