The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium sized owl which has distinctive head feathers. It breeds throughout the UK (less commonly in the South-West and Wales) and is nocturnal and shy, making it one of our less seen owl species. The hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a member of the falcon family and is much admired for its high-speed aerial manoevres. Hobbies arrive in the UK in April, spend the summer here to breed and then leave again in September or October.
Both long-eared owls and hobbies will typically nest in old nests which have been abandoned by their previous occupants. These attractive baskets mimic such nests. They are woven from willow and can be placed either in a hedgerow or tree. For long-eared owls the basket should be sited in the lower half of a tree in woodland, or in a dense hedgerow near coarse grassland with tussocks. For hobbies, it should be sited near the top of a tree near the edge of a woodland, overlooking farmland or wetland.
* Diameter: 460mm
* Height: 150mm
* Weight: 0.6kg
* Material: Willow