The Barn Owl Trust should be able to answer your question

2013 photos & vids here

eff37 on Flickr

Thanks, that was helpful.
They said that it is unlikely that an Owl would nest in a squirrel drey, but pointed out that it is possible that other bird species may.

Daletron said:

I need to control the squirrels in some woodland as they are decimating the younger trees.

Apparently poking or shooting the dreys at this time of year is a very effective control method, but have also heard that Owls (or other birds) might sometimes start using an old squirrel drey to nest in. Is this true?

Obviously I don't want to harm anything other than squirrels!

I hope you mean Grey Squirrels and not the Red Squirrels, Red Squirrels are fully protected in law.

Regards,

Ian.

Hi

Long Eared Owls sometimes nest in old dreys

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box

In reply to seymouraves:

seymouraves said:
Hi

Long Eared Owls sometimes nest in old dreys

S

Yes. I remembering reading that decades ago in my first bird book........Reader's Digest 'Book of British Birds'. Got two copies as grandad passed his on. Mine was gifted in 1976!

I watched a pair in one on Lesvos a few years back
:)

I never got that book as a pre-teen; - too expensive-

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box

In reply to seymouraves:

seymouraves said:

:)

I never got that book as a pre-teen; - too expensive-

He was a very generous person. Very astute too, so probably saw it as a long term investment and interest, when he bought me my copy.

Squirrel Control - Do Owls sometimes nest in old squirrel dreys?