Study

The effect of nestboxes on breeding populations of birds in broadleaved temperate woodlands

  • Published source details East M.L. & Perrins C.M. (1988) The effect of nestboxes on breeding populations of birds in broadleaved temperate woodlands. Ibis, 130, 393-401.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds

    A replicated, controlled study over two years in deciduous woodland in Oxfordshire, England (East & Perrins 1988), did not find consistent effects of nest box provision on tit Parus spp. reproduction. Great tits P. major and blue tits P. caeruleus (alternatively Cyanistes caeruleus) had significantly higher fledging success in nest boxes in 1983, but not 1984 (77% and 74% of eggs in nest boxes producing fledglings in 1983 vs. 35% and 46% of those in natural nests; 73% and 45% for nest boxes in 9184 vs. 56% and 51% for natural nests). In 1984, the percentage of nests fledging at least one chick was significantly higher for great tits in boxes (82% for boxes vs. 27% for natural nests), but not blue tits (62% and 69%). Differences were smaller in 1983 (91% for both species in nest boxes vs. 75% and 81% for great tits and blue tits in natural nests).

     

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