An American neighborhood revolution is taking place after dark, in the front and back yards of homes, and people are starting to notice it. Homeowners are discovering that their night \\"gardens\\" are drawing the interest of some of the most elusive creatures in the animal kingdom—owls. This phenomenon of design is occurring intentionally, and combines elements of garden design and some fascinating components of owl behavioral science.
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According to the National Wildlife Federation, more and more people are creating \"moon gardens\". These special gardens are designed to attract wildlife at night. Moon gardens use white and silver plants that reflect the moon. These natural beacons attract moths, and the owls that prey on them.
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Expansion into suburbia leads to new homes and urban environments for owls, as described by urban wildlife ecologist Dr. Sarah Chen, “What we’re seeing is a perfect storm of conditions. As suburban areas expand, these night gardens are creating corridors of habitats that owls are quickly learning to exploit.”
Why Owls Are Choosing Suburbs
This pattern can be seen outside of the countryside. Some types of owls, like the Eastern Screech Owl and the Barred Owl, are pretty good at adjusting to suburban ecosystems. One of the best things about suburbs is the combination of open hunting grounds (lawns), plus, the presence of night blooming gardens that attract their prey.
I have seen owl activity increase in correlation with the construction of moon gardens in the neighborhood. Moon gardens are stunning, but they also create an ecosystem that works well at nighttime.
How to Design the Perfect Night Garden
Attracting owls to your night garden is simple if you follow a few basic instructions. Most successful gardens tend to have:
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Evening primrose and moonflowers are ideal white blooming flowers that attract moths. Silver-leafed plants such as dusty miller and lamb's ear also create a perfect garden for posh moths as they reflect moonlight. The water features in your garden will provide sounds of play and navigation for nocturnal predators and will attract small mammals, which are ideal for the native grasses. Of course, you want small mammals as they create habitats for owls.
Chen explained how the flowers “create layers of attraction” and commented, “The white flowers attract moths, which, in turn, attract small owls. The grasses attract mice and voles, which, in turn, attract large owls.”
Outside the Garden: The Suburban Owl Effect
Homeowners and gaining less trouble with pests. Natural rodent control and pest issues are declining. Neighbors are fostering community bonds and gathering for "owl walks". Other neighbors are creating a community owl sighting report.
Owls are indicators of healthy ecosystems. The presence of these predatory birds in our suburbs shows that a thriving food chain and active biodiversity exists, even in our backyards.
Creating Your Own Owl Haven
If you wish to attract owls to your land, begin attempting it in a smaller scope in the hopes of eventually achieving it. You might try to plant some flowers of the night or see some silver leaves. Running water was also suggested. Some parts of your lawn that has not been mown will encourage small animals to come.
While most gardens grow and develop vividly during the day, nighttime gardens can be much more rewarding in the long run. Owls hoot and "call" in your garden during the nighttime. When you create the right environment, where nighttime wildlife can be as rewarding as daytime wildlife, you will be transforming your garden in an extraordinary way.
Owls are protected species and it is illegal to purposely attract them. However, you can build habitats for them. The main idea is to create an environment for these awesome creatures to come by themselves.
As suburbs continue to encroach upon natural areas, our backyard owl havens become increasingly important. These are not just gardens; they are essential links that enable wildlife to cope with our changed surroundings. In turn, these owl havens let us enjoy nature's nighttime theater in the comfort of our backyards.
If you love nature and enjoy observing birds, you can draw wildlife to your night garden. Night gardens help transform suburbs into vibrant ecosystems, and more and more people are building them.
