Provide artificial nesting sites for swifts

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

25%
Certainty

16%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

A study from the USA found that Vaux’s swifts Chaetura vauxi successfully used nest boxes provided.

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 study in 1999-2002 in pine forests in Oregon, USA (Bull 2003), found that Vaux’s swifts Chaetura vauxi successfully nested in nest boxes, with 53% of 51 nesting attempts successful and fledging an average of 3.5 chicks/nest. A total of 103 nest boxes were erected, with 12-17 used each year and a total of 30 boxes used. Boxes had a 30 x 30 x 350 cm with a 10 x 15 cm entrance hole and attached 10-15 m above the ground in trees.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Bull E.L. (2003) Use of nest boxes by Vaux's swifts. Journal of Field Ornithology, 74, 394-400.

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

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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