Study

Effects of nest box size on eastern bluebird nests

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 paired study in the summers of 1977-84 in farmland in Tennessee, USA (Pitts 1988), found that eastern bluebirds Sialis sialis did not show any preference for, or have higher reproductive success in, large nest boxes, compared to small ones (50 nests built in large boxes, 4.6 eggs/clutch and 2.9 fledglings/nest vs. 44 nests built in small boxes, 4.7 eggs/clutch and 3.0 fledglings/ nest). There was some evidence that more chicks from large boxes returned to the study area, compared to those from small boxes (9% vs. 3% respectively). Ten pairs of boxes were erected 75 cm apart on metal supports. Small boxes had a 71.5 cm2 basal area, large had 143 cm2 and both had a 3.8 cm diameter entrance hole.

     

Output references
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