Provide artificial nesting sites for rollers

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

20%
Certainty

20%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

A before-and-after study from Spain found that the use of nest boxes by European rollers Coracias garrulous increased over time and that use varied between habitats.
A replicated controlled trial from Spain found no difference in success rates between new and old nest boxes, although birds in old boxes began nesting earlier.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled study in pastureland in 1989-90 in Extramadura, Spain (Avilés et al. 2000), found that European rollers Coracias garrulus nesting in new nest boxes did not have higher reproductive success than those nesting in older nest boxes (average of 4.3 eggs/clutch, 69% breeding success and 4.0 fledglings/successful nest for 16 pairs in old boxes vs. 4.1 eggs/clutch, 83% and 3.6 fledglings/nest for 49 pairs in new boxes) and began laying significantly later (average laying date of 25^th May for clutches in 16 old boxes vs. 30^th May for 49 new boxes). Rollers did not appear to preferentially use either old or new boxes. Boxes were 32 x 18 x 19 cm with a 6 x 18 cm entrance hole and were installed on power line pylons at an average density of 9.5 boxes/km of power line.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Avilés J.M., Sanchez J.M. & Parejo D. (2000) The roller Coracias garrulus in Extremadura (southwestern Spain) does not show a preference for breeding in clean nestboxes. Bird Study, 47, 252-254.
A before-and-after study in agricultural habitats in Extramadura, Spain (Avilés & Parejo 2004), found that the number of European rollers Coracias garrulus using artificial nest boxes increased from 29 in 1988 (76% of the 38 boxes available) to 350 in 1991 (55% of 641 available boxes). Nest boxes use varied with habitat: from 68% use in unwooded pasture (256 boxes available) to only 34% in cereal fields with holm oaks (32 boxes). Nest boxes were the same design as in Avilés et al. 2000.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Avilés J.M. & Parejo D. (2004) Farming practices and roller Coracias garrulus conservation in south-west Spain. Bird Conservation International, 14, 173-181.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Clean nest boxes to increase occupancy or reproductive success Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	10	Synopsis Link
Provide nesting material for wild birds Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link
Provide artificial nesting sites for divers/loons Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	4	Synopsis Link