Study

Use by tits of nest boxes of different designs in pinewoods

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

    Three replicated trials in pine forests in north and east Scotland (Summers & Taylor 1996) found that tits Parus spp., with the exception of crested tits P. cristatus preferentially nested in deep nest boxes over shallow ones and empty boxes over those filled with wood shavings. In 1991, trials at two sites found that, of 50 pairs of nest boxes erected (one ‘deep’: 12 x 8 x 25 cm; one ‘shallow’: 11.5 x 10.5 x 15 cm), 15 of the deep boxes were occupied (eight by great tits P. major, five by blue tits P. caeruleus and two by coal tits P. ater) with only a single shallow box occupied by a pair of crested tits. In 1993-4, a second trial at one site found that, of 83 pairs of nest boxes erected (one empty, one with wood shavings, all of the ‘deep’ design), 23 empty boxes were occupied (16 by great tits, four by blue tits and three by coal tits), compared to 12 filled boxes (eleven by crested tits and one by great tits).

     

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