Magnuson Barn Owls Get a New Box

Barn Owl | Matthew Patterson | Audubon Photography Awards

Former Nature Camper plays it forward for owls.

If you’ve ever been at Magnuson Park in North Seattle at twilight and heard a strange “scream” you may have encountered one of the parks beloved Barn Owls. For more than a decade, a Barn Owl nest box has perched in a tree on the west side of the park and welcomed several pairs of owls to nest and raise their owlets there. About a year ago, the nest box fell (it wasn’t currently in use) in a storm and the space has been vacant of boxes and owls since then.  

Jackson, a local high school student and aspiring Eagle Scout was inspired to act. He tells Birds Connect Seattle: “I wanted to replace the owl box for the owls, and to teach members of my Scout Troop and the public about ways they can help to make our city more bird friendly. I chose this project because I wanted to do something that would have a lasting effect on the community and nature.” Jackson, along with his younger siblings, spent summer after summer frolicking around Magnuson Park through Birds Connect Seattle’s Nature Camp. These summer experiences instilled in him a deep love of birds and nature and an interest in local conservation efforts.  

Remembering his connection to camp, Jackson reached out to BCS Community Engagement Manager (then Camp Manager) Hanae Bettencourt to discuss the idea of replacing the Barn Owl box at Magnuson. She was able to connect him with the appropriate authorities at Seattle Parks & Recreation including their Wildlife Coordinator and several arborists who were familiar with the significance of the former nest box.  

Following the nest box specifications recommended by Human Wildlife Control, Jackson acquired materials and consulted with Parks on the exact site and hanging method to protect the tree but keep it safe and stable for the future nesting owls. 

On December 19, 2024, with the assistance of the skilled arborists at Seattle Parks, the new nest box was installed in the tree canopy.  

Nest box being hung at Magnuson Park by Seattle Parks & Rec arborists.

But the story doesn’t end there. Realizing that quality bird habitat isn’t just about a nest box, Jackson took it upon himself to also raise awareness about some of the urban hazards that owls face in our area. He created an educational poster highlighting the toll that window collisions and secondary poisoning from rodenticides have on our local bird populations. With Barn Owls consuming as many as 25 rodents a night, rodenticides and the harm they cause to owls is an increasing concern. Through our collaboration on this project, it also provided a perfect opportunity for Birds Connect Seattle and Seattle Parks and Recreation to continue discussions about alternative (less toxic to birds) rodent control solutions in parks. 

Jackson presented his conservation poster at a Birds Connect Seattle Speaker Series event  to educate people who frequent the park about bird conservation.

He says, “I think that the conservation work that Birds Connect Seattle does is very important for our city.” 

Spring is still many months away, but we are already hopeful this new nest box might catch the eyes of a Barn Owl pair who will continue the tradition of raising their young in Magnuson Park.  

More About Birds at Magnuson 

The park’s varied habitats, including grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, and shorelines are home to anywhere from 100-220 bird species. Barn Owls are one of those species. Barn Owls are not listed as threatened or endangered in Washington State, but their numbers are declining in some areas due to habitat destruction. In urban areas, they remain prone to vehicle collisions, window collisions, and secondary poisoning when they consume poisoned rodents.