We are so excited that our Owl Shack owl house has a cute and very interesting tenant. We're attaching pictures and we've named him/her "Owlbin" — after my husband's grandfather Albin. We just love Owlbin and watch him/her every day that he/she is out sunning — which happens almost every day. A friend gave us the owl house about three years ago and we put it up right away. It was vacant for all that time until this past October — when Owlbin moved in. We were so excited the first day we saw him/her. We couldn't believe our eyes. Most of the time, Owlbin sits undisturbed while we are in the backyard. If we get a little too close, though, he/she disappears down into his/her house. But he/she soon reappears when we go in our house. One of our pictures shows where the owl house is located. We have a good view of Owlbin from our dining table in our sun room. What a wonderful treat. But, we're sorry to learn from reading articles on the internet, that he/she may vacate the house during the hottest part of the summer. And, it really does get hot here in Central Texas. Today, March 14th, it was 95 degrees here. Maybe Owlbin will just sit in his/her doorway on hot summer days.

So far, we have no idea if Owlbin has found a mate and maybe will have babies this year. Sometimes Owlbin looks very small and sometimes he/she looks much bigger. Today, he/she was sitting very tall. When we first noticed the size difference, we thought he/she had found a mate to move in. We have been very concerned about excess noise in our backyard from time to time. It's necessary for us to blow our oak leaves and, of course, that blower makes a terrible noise. It'll also be necessary to mow soon. We've blown the leaves already once this season and we need to do it again, but are hesitant to do so. Thanks for your nice web site. We enjoyed it. We'll recommend it to friends and see if they'd like to purchase one of your owl houses.

—Carolyn & Joe Pils

Cliff, as a birthday gift for my wife, I bought one of your Owl Shack owl houses about a year and a half ago and immediately secured it on one of our old oaks in the very middle of the backyard. We waited patiently, knowing that one day we would celebrated the arrival of some wayward owl needing a place to stay. She arrived about two weeks ago. My wife has named her "Al", short for Allison. She may have found her new home through an "apartment-locater" owl as it seemed that she was escorted here by an acquaintance; either that or she was being courted. For a short time we saw two owls on several occasions near the house. I can only guess that the two were somehow connected. Our yard has a nice stand of olds oaks back there with plenty of open space between Al's house and any other structure. I have kept a bird bath clean for years just below the owl house tree and have many visitors daily; from birds to bees. It never runs dry. I believe the new owl will be very content here for as long as she cares to stay...thanks to you.

—JKP

It took about a year, but now our Owl Shack is occupied by Rowlph. We love it.

—Mark and Laura Gault

After almost a year, "Owl Capone" moved into the Owl Shack owl box that my daughter gave me for Mother's day last year. He/she had to run the squirrels off the box so he/she could move into his new "digs". We are so happy to have our little gangster and only hope that he/she won't start charging us for protection!

—Carla Jenkins

Cliff, Cliff, Cliff! We've got a screech owl visiting our Owl Shack owl box! I spotted one last night when I pointed a flashlight at the box. I was QUITE excited! My husband saw it as well.

—Sheryl Smith-Rodgers (award-winning writer)

Finally, the owl we've been hearing for months and maybe the one that slammed into our window in October and was stunned for several minutes has moved in to our Owl Shack. As I mentioned back then, if an owl ever moved it we'd name it Slam. Can't wait to go out and visit it everyday. Thanks for the pleasant diversion and the ability to view this typically private part of nature.

—Janice Brown

Hi Cliff, I gave my friend an Owl Shack, and it was up only a couple of months before we looked up and saw Zeus, the first inhabitant. We had a wonderful time watching him. He would sun himself in the mornings on his "porch" and come out again in the evening just before dusk. Around 6 p.m., off he would fly for his nighttime prowl. He is very happy there — doesn't seem spooked by the dogs' commotion or people in the yard.

—Dorothy Brady

Cliff, I bought two Owl Shacks from you in the fall of '06. I gave one of them to a friend for Christmas and we put it up sometime in January '07. We checked on it periodically but never saw an owl. I figured it wasn't in a very good spot and always had intentions of moving it somewhere else but just never got around to it. Then one day about two weeks ago I was working on the fence really close to it and we spotted an owl in the Owl Shack just watching me work!!! It has been there since then and it is so much fun to check on. I just hope it sticks around. We are still trying to come up with a name....one that everyone in the family can agree on....will let you know what it is as soon as we pick one so you can add it to your website.

—Bonnie Harvey

Cliff & Julie Shackelford, It took almost 13 months for Johnnie Owl to make residence in his new home. Johnnie is the talk of the neighborhood and he is very entertaining in the morning at breakfast and in the afternoon at the kitchen window.

—Charlie Bourgeois

Cliff, Here is the story of the arrival of our pet owl — Hedwig of Wisconsin. We recently received a phone call from our family in the suburbs of Chicago letting us know that an owl had appeared in their Owl Shack (a picture of that owl is nicely displayed on your web site as sent in by Bob Essak). It was a blizzardy day during a month where we received over 50 inches of snow which is very unusual for December in the upper mid-west. After the call, I immediately went to the window of our urban house in Milwaukee to check our Owl Shack which had sat empty for over a year. To our delight, an owl was there — it had appeared on the same day in Milwaukee as in Chicago about 90 miles away. Was it a coincidence that they appeared on the same day? Or did the blizzardy conditions cause the owls to find new shelter? We now share regular reports with our family in Chicago and compare notes about the owl's activities. It is now early February, temperatures have dropped, and we've both noticed that the owl is spending more time in the entrance of the Owl Shack. Anyway, we all love our new "pet" and are delighted that it doesn't need to be fed, walked, or incur large vet bills!

—Sam and Balen Essak

Hi Shackelfords, a month ago I heard a screech owl outside in the night and the next morning looked at our house and "WHOOPEE!" we have a bird perched in the door of our Owl Shack. We think it may be a female, as its head almost scrapes the top of the opening as she sits. We keep a scope set up on the box now all the time. Our son was here today and would love for us to order him an Owl Shack. You are really doing a great service for us bird nuts! Thanks.

—Barbara Ribble

Just when I thought I was the only person with an empty Owl Shack, an Eastern Screech-Owl appeared yesterday, just over two years since I put it up. Yippee!!!

—Shannon Davies

Just wanted to let you know we have an owl in our Owl Shack. Our 12-year old daughter is beside herself. She is busy taking pictures to show all her friends. It is very exciting. We see the owl every evening and we have binoculars out every afternoon waiting for him to wake. Our daughter is having a bunch of friends over to see him this weekend. Thanks!!!

—Rhonda Rayborn

Hey Cliff, wanted to let you know that after 10 months since we hung one of your Owl Shacks in our backyard in Pennsylvania, we finally had an owl take up residency this week. Your Owl Shack was a Christmas present from my sister in Texas. It was so cool to see the owl for the first time. It actually has been perched in the opening for most days, which enables us to watch our beautiful bird. Many thanks for making our Owl Shack.

—Carol Kirkman

I woke up yesterday morning and first thing let the dogs out to do their business and lo and behold, there was an owl sitting in the owl box just as pretty as you please. It kinda scared me at first as I had imagined one in there but never thought I would see the real thing. I took some pictures of him/her and am going to try to enclose one of them. I also watched last night when it came out of the box as the sun was going down and within no time, it was gone. Well, it was back this morning sitting right there again so I am hoping that is a good sign that it will stay. I got so excited when I saw the owl. It was just something I didn't think would happen. My neighbors got just as excited.

—Sandra Canizaro

Hi! I just wanted to let you all know that the Owl Shack I bought from you was set up in a tree by a neighbor months ago. Well, this morning at 10:30 A.M., I went out there and noticed something on the side of the Shack, so I walked around to the front to see it better. I couldn't believe my eyes and was so thrilled! A cute little owl sitting there looking down at me! I said, "Oh, Hello, Sweetest Pie, welcome to our neighborhood!" Three of my neighbors have cameras, but none of them are home right now. When I get picture of it, I will e-mail it to you. Right after my neighbor set it up in the tree, another neighbor asked me, "Does it come with an owl?" So, I explained to her that it is the same as when buying a birdhouse to set up so martins or whatever kind of birds would come to it. I was worried at first as I had that tree cut off at the top this past summer, but several limbs are growing out fast already. Will get back to you later. Take care and you all do come and see it.

—M.C. Forister

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!! We have an owl in our Owl Shack! He showed up this morning after the rains, hung around all day and just now left to do his hunting for the evening. Thanks for such a great early Christmas present.

—Chuck and Reenie Smith

Hello, I bought 2 Owl Shacks from you last summer; kept one and gave one to my Dad for Father's Day. About 3 weeks ago, I got an owl! He is so cute...I look forward to seeing him every morning. I named him "Merlin". I would like to order another Shack to give as a Christmas gift so I'll mail you an order form with a check this week. Thanks.

—Mary Lippa

Thanks a million for the Owl Shack! Our education staff at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center has already placed it in a nifty spot near the bayou. We are eagerly awaiting tenants.

—Gina Donovan (Executive Director, Houston Audubon Society)

I'd like to let you know that we've listed Owl Shack as one of our Shopping Partners on the Houston Audubon web site and you're also on our Holiday Gift Ideas page (for 2007).

—Susan Billetdeaux (Webmaster, Houston Audubon Society)

I was having a beer with a friend after work today and he told me about your Owl Shacks. He's been having a hoot of a time watching his owl. My wife was a biology major and avid birder so I decided to purchase one for her for Christmas. If I mail a check and my order form tomorrow, will it get here in time? Thanks for doing what you do!

—Josh Bohls

I bought two Owl Shacks last year. And just last week our first owl moved in! Thank you so much. I'll check out the website for friend and relative gifts!

—Jane Ripperger-Suhler

Our neighbors have an owl in one of your Owl Shacks and my kids have fallen in love with him so we're placing an order for one.

—Ashley Putnam

We've had our Owl Shack up for nearly a year and finally, tonight, as I was pointing it out to my mother, I realized there was something gray in the opening. I could barely contain my excitement. I grabbed my camera and stealthily got as close as I dared. We are so excited and hope he/she stays. Thank you.

—Liane Holder

Yee Haw! Cliff, our first resident of our Owl Shack was spotted today! Our Shack has been up almost 2 years!

—Sharon Phenix Hehr

Unlike many testimonials that I've read, it took almost a year for my owl to appear. From November of 2006 until now, I wasn't having any luck. But boy, it was exciting. I called my wife at work and my daughter, who lives in North Carolina, so I could share the excitement.

—Larry Thorne

We are so excited! The Owl Shack owl house we installed in the spring has attracted its first visitor. So cute and tiny. My young daughter noticed him out the front window when we were playing in the play room. She looked up and got big eyes and said real quietly, "Look — In the owl house. There is something. It's an owl." I didn't want to disturb him by going outside so I just shot this photo through the front door window. I figured he sought new shelter to get out of the crazy wind we've been having here for the past few days.

We feel so special — And doubly so for a screech owl because they always eluded me growing up when I went birdwatching with my parents. I was never with the person that saw/heard one. They were my nemesis. We've heard them in our neighborhood consistently over the years and we've seen them in owl houses or in neighbors trees around the block but we decided to put up an owl house this year and YAY!

We decided this place was the best one for the house but it is kinda close to our front walkway so he gets nervous and pops down inside when we walk out to the car or to get the mail/paper. I hope we don't disturb him too much and he decides to stay for a while. We just love him and his cute (sharp) little feet.

—Amy Rose

Hello Cliff, This just in—we first saw our owl yesterday around 6:00 and again tonight. We have a very good view of him quite close out of our den window, but were totally unable to get a better photo from inside, and I didn't want to scare him off. I had a wild hope a red morph might show up, as one had been in a neighbor's box some years back (they moved and that box has been down since then). But I would have been thrilled by any color of owl, so this is quite special. Thanks for building such a swell home. Best,

—Judy Mataya

After months of watching, waiting and whining, I had nearly given up getting an owl due to the small size of our lot and lack of suitable trees. Our tree service then butchered my Live Oak tree and left nothing but the canopy in the top. They moved the Owl Shack owl house up a bit higher and "Voila" I got an owl within days!! A beautful owl... He sits in the opening a lot and watches us carefully, but doesn't seem affected by admiring neighbors, husband watering plants or feeding birds. Thank you Cliff and Julie. We love our owl...

—Cathie Lanier

An adult screech owl magically appeared about a month ago. It was so exciting to see it stare right back at us as we approached the tree for a closer look. Then just last week, a baby owl appeared. And a day later a second baby appeared. Then on the third day, the third baby peered over the opening of our owl house. We are in wonder of these amazing birds. Thank you for making our Owl Shack owl house. Nature is such a simple joy that really touches us deeply. Amazing stuff.

—Melody Parsons

We now have an owl in one of our houses! I'm ordering another owl house for my sister in Oklahoma.

—Sydna Hall

We put up one of your owl houses. We were spending the week working on our gardens. I was standing at our living room window thinking I needed to cut back some branches to open up the view of the owl house when I noticed a screech owl perched on the front porch of the owl house! Just like magic!! So we named him Hoodini. We are soooooo excited! Thanks for making such an effective owl house. And then this past week, my 91-year-old father was in town for a visit, and one of the highlights was him conversing with Hoodini. That moment alone is worth 10-times the price of the owl house. Wonderful and magical stuff. Thank you!

—Jim Trudeau

My son gave me one of your owl houses for Christmas and we got it installed two weeks ago. Attached are a couple of pictures of the new resident that showed up this morning. Thanks for your terrific idea, we're already getting lots of enjoyment from having it in our backyard.

—Dave Bush

It happened yesterday at about 7 AM. I opened the blinds to the backyard as I was getting ready to leave for work. And there he (she?) was! Sitting as big as you please in the doorway to our "Owl Shack" — but excuse me — we prefer "Owl House" in our neighborhood. I rousted my wife from her beauty sleep. We are so excited. I bought the owl house plus a second for my son and his bride for a gift. I put our house up in a big Live Oak tree in our backyard. I did it with love, putting in several handfuls of beautiful yellow leaves that had fallen off our Mexican Buckeye tree with the changing season. And then we waited. And waited. And fretted. Was the house high enough? With my 8 foot ladder, I was a little short of the recommended 10 feet. Was the house facing too close to north as was cautioned against with the north wind? It seemed to fit well there and our home is on the north side of the tree, hopefully blocking the wind. Was the house tilted too far forward? That's the way the tree grew. And so we waited. But yesterday our patience was rewarded. My wife, always the creative and "original" thinker immediately named him "Hooty," an unusual name for an Eastern Screech-Owl, I think. I suggested "Socrates," but she's the boss. He's beautiful. Really red and spotted with big "ears". Big — pretty much fills the opening to the house. And bold. Not bothered when I'm watering the plants outside, but keeps a close eye on me. He was standing in the opening both yesterday and today about 6 PM when I got home from work. We hope a good mate arrives soon. We haven't been this excited in a good while. We helped our son put up his owl house some weeks ago. I'm not sure his was put up with as much love as ours was. No Mexican Buckeye leaves in the bottom of his house — just some careless handfuls of debris from his yard. He still has a few things to learn from his dad. But we hope he and his bride get their own Hooty soon, too. They better start checking. I'm better with nature than with the digital camera and computer. Thanks for the great experience! We also are enjoying your Hummingbirds of Texas book.

—Chris and Susie Wittmayer

I can't believe this! I received one of your owl houses for my birthday. We put it up on a Tuesday and six days later I noticed we have an owl. He/She looks very comfortable and secure. I'm thrilled!!! We'll name him/her (really, how can I tell?) when the kids get home from school this afternoon. I can't remember when I've been this excited!!

—Robyn Czarnecki

Eleven months after mounting one of your owl houses, we have our first inhabitant, a gray morph Eastern Screech-Owl. We have been spying on the creature from the house non-stop since its arrival, and even when we are near it outside, it doesn't seem disturbed. We'll name it soon; photos are attached. Thanks,

—Stephanie Barko

I received my two owl houses around Christmas, one for my yard and one for my parents. Yesterday our new buddy, Otto, made his debut. I was like a kid on Christmas—waking my wife up to tell her "we've got an owl!" He now joins Howard the Roadrunner who likes to roost in a tree about 20 feet away from him. Just thought I would drop a line and tell you of our success—only two months wait—it was worth it.

—Mark & Chrissy Borskey

The kids gave my husband one of your owl houses as a gift. We've had it up in our tree and now we're proud to announce that we finally have a resident. Introducing Gravy Blue Bueide. The kids named him. Isn't he cute? We'll send a better picture taken with our good camera. We're so exicted!

—Deb Bueide

Last winter we gave ourselves and our two grown sons Owl Shack owl houses. Our sons were only moderately excited until a few weeks later when a screech owl adopted each of them. Now the owls have become members of their families and we get frequent updates about their adventures. Sadly, we are still waiting for an owl to adopt us.

—Anne Donovan

We love our owl! He moved in three days after the owl house went up. The thrill of the morning is running downstairs to see him out there lording over his domain. He is gorgeous and very tolerant of us taking his photo and even the dog that can be very noisy! Thanks for the entertainment!

—Lisa Heiligenstein

We hung our owl house a week or so after we received it, and within ten days had a tenant. We have named it "Owl Jolson". Owl spends much of the day perched at the opening of the box, where we can observe him from our deck. Thanks, Cliff.

—Steve Lockwood

I'm a student at [a small campus]. One of the staff here has one of your owl houses with an owl resident. I got the okay from maintenance to put up one of your owl houses. I'm doing a fund raiser among students to help pay for it. Thanks.

—Keith Hudson

Here is an interesting observation for you. The other day in a strong wind storm, one of my two owl houses blew down, which I find surprising given the heavy duty nails I used. Anyway, the owl just sat on a branch and after about 30 minutes, I thought, what the heck, I'll put it up for him again since he was not going to the other two houses that are up. He sat and watched me put it back up and has gone right back to using it. Anyway, he is back home happy as a clam and the star of the neighborhood.

—Jeff Mundy, Past-president of the Houston Audubon Society

My father had great luck with the owl house I gave him for his birthday. Within a week, an owl had moved in! After about 4-5 days, though, the owl left and hasn't been back. Is that pretty common? Any ideas what might have happened? Thanks. No owl yet in my own owl house, but it's still early.

—Lynda Frost

Well, the person who got an owl tenant the first day he put out his owl house beat me by a little, but not much. I put mine up the week I got it and got an owl a few days later. Thank you again for a fine product. And my tenant thanks you. Regards,

—Dave Parsons

My neighbor purchased an owl house from you recently. Her son hung it for her near her patio door in a giant oak. She now has the cutest screech owl in residence. She called me the other night to tell me there are now two owls in the box. We are all so amazed. I want one of course. Thank you so much for your contributions to nature.

—Robin Noel

We have a screech owl that seems to be roosting in a column on our front porch. He appeared during an ice storm, can disappear into the column (it's a square brick column) and has been there most days most of the time since then. I found your web site and see that you guys are busy building boxes. I would like to order one. He has tolerated our foot traffic on the front porch. And it's pretty cool having him there. We had neighbors who had two owl boxes (and a red-phase Screech Owl!) but they've moved and the current owners must have taken down the boxes. I know one will find our box once we get it. Thanks,

—Judy Mataya

I live near the beach in Florida and have seen owls flying around the neighborhood. In fact, just 20 minutes ago we had a little visitor on our fence. I've attached a photo. I think it's an Eastern Screech Owl? Anyways, I started to research owl houses and found your site. My 2 1/2 year old daughter didn't get to see this owl, so I'd like to encourage them onto our property. Please let me know what the time frame is for receiving an owl house. Much thanks,

—Mark Slatko

Early in the morning, February 8th, my husband and I both heard [an interesting bird vocalization] from the backyard. We had been waiting and hoping for a new feathered family member and finally confirmed the occupant tonight! I looked up at the Owl Shack astonished to see this beautiful owl appear in the opening. We hung the Owl Shack in our large oak tree and realized that because it was eye level to anyone on our deck we needed to move it up about 10 more feet. Within a week of moving the Shack higher, our new friend appeared! Thank you so much for creating the Owl Shacks. We can't wait to show our friends and neighbors!

—Bruce, Christine and Tyler Anderson

At your suggestion I went by [one of your retailers] and bought an Owl Shack. I put it up and got a screech owl eight days later. I knew that there were owls in the area, but never knew they would find the Owl Shack so quickly.

—Joe Zern

New addition to the Brown's family! We have a new friend, an Eastern Screech-Owl. We put up an Owl Shack one afternoon and found this little guy perched at the entrance two days later. It must have been waiting for me to put it up because it is cold and windy. We lost our two Yorkies last year and my wife has seriously adopted our owl (aka JB) which makes for a happy Brown house.

—John & Yoshi Brown

I thought I had wasted my money because I didn't see how an owl could find the Owl Shack that was put up a month ago. Was I surprised! Looking out my window today I saw a screech owl nestled in the opening, warm and dry. Such a thrill.

—Ernestine Carr

Dear Mr. Shackelford, we love owls! Owl Shacks are such a great idea. I am enclosing a check for 3 of them. Thanks,

—Leslie Kaufmann

Count us in the crowd of happy landlords. "Ezekial" moved into his new house about 3-4 weeks after we put it up last month. We couldn't be happier. I'm really glad we took the time to place it using your guidelines, esp. so that it could be seen easily from the window. It's pretty close to our house and only 10 feet up, but "Zeke" seems really laid-back and not easily perturbed. Thanks again,

—The Weizenbaums

Thank you for sending this Owl Shack to my sister [in Pennsylvania]. I bought one from you in Nov. Two weeks later we had our resident owl. Great fun! Thanks.

—Judy Wilkins

Thought you might like to know that another one of your houses has brought in a screech owl to a happy family. We bought two Owl Shacks and put both up in pecan trees. One in the back yard, one in the front. The owl showed up yesterday, has been in both. Seems pretty happy. Thanks,

—Mark Wilson

Some friends gave me an Owl Shack as a gift. It was mounted in a tree next to my deck, about six feet from my bedroom door. Thirteen hours later, my Owl Shack had a resident! Looking out the backdoor glass, I couldn't believe my eyes. Since that door is so near the Owl Shack, I used another door to walk out on the deck and get an even closer view. I was thrilled and quite surprised to confirm there was indeed an occupant-a gorgeous owl! Over the next several weeks, the owl was content to have tree-side visitors and was disturbed by only one thing. It must be camera shy; the presence of a camera caused her to quickly drop to the bottom of the Shack. Well, maybe next year!

—Jan Collins
[Owl Shack note: This 13-hour turnaround is clearly the record that will be very tough to beat!]

A friend put up my new Owl Shack on a Friday afternoon and it rained that night. The screech owl was there to our unbelieving eyes the very next morning! The other birds were madder than heck and stormed the Owl Shack. I've never seen such a ruckus! But the owl was safe and sound as it dropped down into the Shack until the mobbing birds departed. I had a friend over for coffee who said that the owl was her totem. "Owly" came out for all to see. So I now have two more Owl Shack orders to place for friends. Thanks, Owl Shack.

—Sally Scott

We get immense enjoyment from our Owl Shack — well, actually from Powell the owl. Purchased in December '03, our first owl, Powell, appeared on March 5, 2005. In spite of what our Owl Shack directions say, our owl likes the Shack in the spring months — roosting most of the day, clearly visible. The same owl, we think, has now returned — March 5, 2006. Friends who have never looked at a bird before are at a loss for words when they see Powell with binoculars.

Thanks, Owl Shack.

—Jim Thatcher

I bought two Owl Shacks at an Organic Gardener meeting. The one we hung at our neighbors' home was "leased" today! Everyone on the street from age 6 to age 78 is delighted! We've all been out watching this fabulous creature all day. Thank you! This is a wonderful experience. I'll let you know if we get a tenant in the other Shack.

—Cheryl Fries

My Owl Shack was up for 5 or 6 months on the south side of a big pecan, leaning slightly forward, about 15 feet up, with an open flyway to it, and lots of trees and bushes around. I feed lots of birds and, alas, rats and mice, but no owl. My heating repair guy showed up one very cold day and was unloading my new floor furnace and asked me "Is that an owl in the black box on the side of your tree?" It was not visible to me and I replied "No, I've had nothing but squirrels go in there." So he said, "That squirrel has feathers." It was, at last, a screech owl and, due to the cold, it was really puffed up. It left after the cold spell but I've had two more since. I check every day. I gave an Owl Shack to a lady two blocks south of me and she put it up and got an owl in two weeks. Still there after a month! I've really grown to love these little guys and happily my neighborhood has many. I can't wait to see some young ones.

—Bill Arhos

My wife, Anita, and I are having great fun with our "gray morph" screech owl. For the last week, it has spent all day sitting in our Owl Shack and leaves just at dark — always back in the Shack's "pulpit" at daylight! Anita penned this poem:

House was erected
  he came and inspected
Decided to stay
  if only for a day

On March 9th
  What a sight!
We saw a screech
  Just waiting to preach!

He has been there all day every day for a week now. Thanks again to you and Billy Arhos for introducing us to this fun. I am a 70 year old lifelong nature person. We were excited when Billy sent us an Owl Shack and two months later it had a very interesting owl (which I have never seen before). It sits there all day letting us enjoy it. I am ordering an Owl Shack for a friend in Gause, TX, and another one for us as a second Shack in our yard.

—Temple Tucker

After we put up the Owl Shack we waited for about three months, watching the box everyday in the evenings, before we gave up and stopped watching the box religiously. About a month after that I remember thinking, "our owl already has a roost that it likes better"; I then noticed scratch marks on the bottom edge of the opening to the Shack. After going on a family walk that same evening, we came back and there was an owl sitting in the Owl Shack staring at us! I was so excited I emailed just about everyone I know. Now we watch him every evening.

—Stephanie Shelton and Judd O'Bannon

I put my owl box up on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and much to my pleasant surprise I had a resident by 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning. VERY EXCITING!!!

—Susan Sloan

I had never seen a live owl close up until you installed our owl box. Needless to say, my wife and I were THRILLED when a screech owl took up residence in our back yard the first winter we had the box. Having just read a Harry Potter book, I couldn't resist calling our owl "Hedwig," after Harry's companion. We experienced a wonderful, magical moment last winter when our owl was apparently joined by its mate — we woke up one morning to observe TWO screech owls on our back porch, balancing on a ceiling fan! The owl box made a perfect gift. I can't tell you how often I've set up my laptop in the dining room just so I could watch our screech owl through the window while I worked.

—Jim Gillespie

I love the Owl Shack. It works very well. It has been heavily used and is well worn. Mr./Mrs. Owl move in around mid-late October and will occupy the box even up to the first of May if the weather is not too hot. I like having the critter around and I think it likes having me around as well as I keep the squirrels at bay. I can work/piddle in the back and very near the owl box and unless I get real close it does not seem to bother it. But for sure I am always aware that I am being watched by eyes behind the thinnest of slits.

—Brush Freeman

We love birds and enjoy watching them, so naturally we have feeders and nest boxes but nothing has given us more enjoyment than our owl box. Every winter since we put it up three years ago we've had resident screech owls and every spring we've watched owlets fledge. We go to sleep at night listening to their lovely calls. The box is sturdy and requires nothing on our part beyond the initial installation; no cleaning or repairs.

—Peggy Watson

I LOVE having my owl box in my backyard because it gives me something to look forward to every day. I love getting up out of bed to see if the owl is in the box. It also is the first thing that I showed visitors when they would come to the house. It has inspired others to want owl boxes in their back yard like my sister in Brenham and her friends all the way up in Ohio.

—Meg Goodman

Looking out of my son's bedroom window and seeing the little owl perched snoozing in the box for the first time, the children and I drew in our breaths and silently watched him for quite a while before excitement took hold and we rushed to tell everyone to come over and see "our owl". Many evenings this winter we sat together by the window in the darkening room quietly watching the owl take its swooping glide out of the box to begin the night's hunt. Having the owl box, visible from the children's rooms, has been an enriching experience for our entire family. The whole owl box experience has truly been awe-inspiring. Thank you for making them!

—Dayna Beard-Isensee

Well, I put the owl box up last Saturday morning and much to our surprise had renters the first thing Monday morning [2 days later!]. The owl likes being out early in the morning and right before sunset. I've been out of town most of the week so I just got photos yesterday. I'll send them to you.

This is very cool. It's something we look forward to each day. Thanks for hooking us up.

—Jim Stone

Just wanted to say, all those years of schools, graduate degrees and thousands of hours of late nights studying have paid off. After using your competitors' owl boxes for five years with no results, not even a squirrel, I put up the Shackelford Super-X Screech-O-Matics and exactly one week later a screech owl has moved in. I want to be your agent and go nationwide. Even my neighbors are excited. These are magic and you ARE the man!

Thanks,

—Jeff Mundy, Past-president of the Houston Audubon Society

"Also, this past weekend Owl #2 showed up to occupy one of the other houses. Two weeks, two owls — COOL! The Love Shacks are working."

My photographer friend is coming over to take some photos [of our owl]. [This owl] really dominates our world right now. In the morning the kids look at it to see how "fluffed up" it is. They use this to determine whether they need a jacket or not.

We are seriously talking about a bird house fundraiser at school. I'll keep you posted and let you know how many we need. We might even take advance orders and that way only buy what we need. We're thinking of doing bat boxes, owl boxes and some kind of other bird house.

Thanks again Owl Shack,

—Bernadette Noll

Tonight we were all out in the yard around dusk and sure enough our yard owls flew in and one by one they went right to the box. It was so cool. It was also cool that we were out there at all to see it as usually we are inside at that time getting the three kids ready for bed. They wanted to eat outside and so we did and then just lingered in the yard longer than usual. Man, it was so cool. Is that a record for your owl boxes? Three days?? We are all so psyched. My husband actually made another box to put up in the back of the house.

Thanks so much!

—Bernadette Noll
[followup]