Provide artificial nesting sites for rollers
-
Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
-
Number of studies: 2
View assessment score
Hide assessment score
How is the evidence assessed?
-
Effectiveness
-
Certainty
-
Harms
Study locations
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 25th May for clutches in 16 old boxes vs. 30th 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 testedA 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
Where has this evidence come from?
List of journals searched by synopsis
All the journals searched for all synopses
This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:
Bird ConservationBird Conservation - Published 2013
Bird Synopsis