Stories

There are so many layers to the macadamia story. From cooking, health and wellbeing to people, gift ideas and macadamia country, there’s a lot to discover about this extraordinary Australian nut. Spend a little time exploring our latest stories. You’ll be amazed at what you find!

Home » Stories » A sustainable approach » Why macadamia farmers love owls

Why macadamia farmers love owls

The feathered friends helping keep pests at bay.

Nobody likes pests, especially macadamia farmers. And one particular pest, the humble rat, is one of the few rodents with teeth strong enough to chew through the hard, outer shell of a macadamia nut. So if these creatures move into a macadamia orchard they can gorge on both the immature, green nuts and stocks of precious, fully mature macadamias. The resulting damage can be significant, with some farmers reporting crop losses of up to 20%.

One of the best friends a macadamia farmer can have is the native barn owl (Tyto alba). Barn owls are top-order carnivores and play a vital role in the functioning of ecosystems. A single barn owl can catch up to six to ten rats per night, making them an eco-friendly pest control system for farmers struggling to restrict rodent populations.

Unfortunately, most macadamia orchards do not provide adequate habitat for barn owls. Owls need somewhere to breed and perch – most commonly using hollow trees – as they do not construct nests. Barn owls also require clear sightlines on their prey, something the dense foliage of macadamia trees prevents. 

So many macadamia farmers are now trying making barn owls feel at home in their orchards. In the absence of hollow trees, growers are retro-fitting their properties with perches and owl boxes and strategically planting native trees both amongst and alongside the macadamia trees. Partnerships between the macadamia industry and universities are examining the success of these measures and looking at ways this biological pest control can be enhanced. Other native controls for a variety of pests, such as using bats and insects, are also being explored.

Australian macadamia farmers have installed tall lookouts in the orchard for owls and birds of prey

In the heart of macadamia country at Knockrow, the Macadamia Castle showcases the importance barn owls can play in agriculture at its Nocturnal House enclosure. Inside the exhibition, light controls have been used to control when the owls are awake, so they are active during daylight hours. As well as a barn owl, Nocturnal House is home to a boobook owl and a sugar glider. Visitors can learn about the animals and experience the fascinating world that exists when most of us are asleep. The aim of the exhibition is to highlight the important role owls and other nocturnal animals play in conservation. This is a role macadamia farmers know all too well.

Making barn owls feel at home with nest boxes, plus homes for native microbats and other insects.

Related Stories

How to fight food waste with Australian Macadamias Delicious ways to fight food waste Did you know that we waste 7.6 million tonnes of food a year in Australia? That’s equal to nearly 300… Read More
Macadamia nut hanging on tree in Australia Five reason why we’re loving The Original Macas Long before Ronald even opened a restaurant, macadamias have provided fast and delicious on-the-go eating for Australians making macadamia nuts… Read More
Macadamia flower with bee Tips for creating a bee friendly home and garden Macadamia farmers love bees! They are an essential part of a macadamia orchard, with an important role in producing the… Read More
Why sunlight and regenerative agricultural practices are the key to this Australian macadamia orchard The Harris family’s macadamia farm outside Bangalow on the NSW Far North Coast is called Piccadilly Park, but this is… Read More

Get monthly emails about all things macadamias. Yum!

Just pop your details

down here

Contact us

Sorry for interrupting, this website uses cookies to improve your user experience. Continuing to use our site means we’ll assume you’re ok with this. Read more