The breeding of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus, in the reclaimed area Ootelijk Flevoland

Published source details Cave A.J. (1968) The breeding of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus, in the reclaimed area Ootelijk Flevoland. Netherlands Journal of Zoology, 18, 313-407.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide nest boxes for birds Action Link

Provide nest boxes for birds

A before and after study of Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus from 1959 to 1965 in the Oostelijk Flevoland in the Netherlands (Cavé 1968) found that there was an increase from 20 breeding pairs to 109 clutches following nest box installation in the study area (natural vegetation, plantation and 20% crops). In 1959, there were 25 nest boxes and approximately 20 breeding kestrel pairs, of which 11 used a nest box. In 1960, once the 243 boxes had been installed, 109 clutches were found in the three blocks (two natural vegetation, one cultivated); only a few were outside the boxes. In 1960-1965, there were 16-62 kestrel clutches in the cultivated block (80% plantation, 20% common crops; 117 boxes), there were also 0-12 long-eared owl Asio otus clutches. In each block, 81 kestrel nest boxes (50 x 30 x 30 cm) on 2 m poles were placed in nine rows of nine (330 m apart). An additional 36 nest boxes were placed in one half of the cultivated block in the winter of 1961-1962.