Three Barn Owls Released at Estate Vineyard

Three Barn Owls Released at Estate Vineyard

Three juvenile barn owls found a new home this month at our Estate Vineyard in the Salem Hills, continuing a more than decade-long tradition of bird rescues and friendships.

For the last 13 years, Joe Perez, a Founding Owner at Willamette and a long-standing Oregon Wine Enthusiast member, has been working with Eugene-based Cascades Raptor Center to release rehabilitated barn owls and kestrels into our vineyard.

Our Estate Vineyard in the Salem Hills is home to multiple owl nesting boxes.

Willamette Valley Vineyards' partnership with the center started when Jan Bernau sought guidance from longtime friend and Cascades Raptor Center Founder Louise Shimmel to learn more about her raptor release program. Jan wanted to improve rodent management at the vineyard and knew Louise could help.

Louise ensured the vineyard was safe for the birds and provided specifications for the necessary owl and kestrel homes. Next, Joe built nesting boxes and - with help from Facilities Coordinator Randy Hillyer - hung these "bird condos" at the Estate vineyard. Over time, the program expanded to our other vineyards. Joe and Randy continue to help maintain the nesting boxes.

Having these birds in our vineyards helps create a balanced ecosystem by controlling pest populations in a pesticide-free environment. Willamette continues to introduce new birds each year, including orphaned juvenile owls and a red-tailed hawk named Jory, who Cascades Raptor Center rescued in December 2022.

Facilities Manager Lloyd Jones holds a barn owl from Cascades Raptor Center.

A Unique Year

While Cascades Raptor Center has been releasing owls at our vineyards consistently year after year, the recent release was an anomaly. Usually, Willamette releases owls in the summertime.

"This is the first year I thought we weren't getting any owls at all," Joe said, because the center had very few owls available for release.

Fortunately, three juvenile barn owls made the trip to the Salem Hills, where Facilities Manager Lloyd Jones climbed the ladder and placed the raptors in the bird condos. It's not easy carrying a live owl up a ladder, so Joe and Randy offered support as Lloyd climbed the rungs.

"You got this," Joe said, giving Lloyd a pat on the back.

Lloyd Jones puts a barn owl into a nesting box.

The hope for this program is that the owls will carry out pest management duties around the vineyard and eventually return to nest in the bird box when they are ready to breed.

This year, Joe added a porch to the outside of the bird condos to prevent potential baby owls from falling out of the box as they prepare to fly away.

A Special Connection

Releasing the raptors each year has been a meaningful part of Joe's life.

"It is one of the most rewarding projects I've worked on," he said. "There is something special about holding a live owl in your hands."

The program began with Louise and Jan's friendship and has continued to give back by creating a special bond between Joe and Randy.

The trio of Randy, Lloyd and Joe work together to handle a barn owl.

"The best thing to come out of this program is my buddy, Joe," Randy said.

Wine enthusiasts who stay at Willamette's Into the Woods campground and hike the trail will see a new sign that describes the project's history and where they can glimpse our owl boxes.