Hi James,
I suspect that good quality nest holes are a limiting factor for many of
those species that use/require nest holes. One indication of this is that
there appears to be great competition among species for good nest holes...birds,
galagos, anomalures, bees, etc., might all be interested in, and use, a
particular nest hole.
I have long been surprised at how few people have put up nest boxes for
birds and mammals in Africa....compared to Europe or North America. In
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, SW Uganda, I put up a few
nest boxes and had a few species use them. Since then, Derek
Pomeroy and students have done a Stripe-breasted Tit study there...based on data
obtained from tits nesting in nest boxes that they put up. I do not know
the details...but I think the results have been good.
Here at Soita Nyiro Wildlife Conservancy (near Mpala Wildlife Conservancy,
Laikipia) I have put us about 20 nest boxes over the past year...a big variety
of box sizes, entrance hole sizes...and placements in trees...on and
buildings. Some would seem to be large enough to accommodate hornbills and
owls...but no luck as yet. Now, with the drought just ended, some Greater
Blue-eared Starlings and Superb Starlings have taken to nesting in a few of
them. One type of 'box' design is completely open on one or two
sides. One of these is in use by a pair of Yellow-spotted
Petronias.
I have several books here that are full of nest box designs...for North
American birds. Some of these designed have been used by me. I think
we need to play around a lot with box materials, shape and size, hole size, hole
location on the box, placement of boxes (tree species, heights, directions,
exposure), etc. Lots of variables to consider. Recording these
variable for boxes that are both successful and unsuccessful should be
undertaken so that we have a better handle on what works and does not work for
the various species...not just birds, but mammals as well...especially
galagos.
Some of us have staff whom we might not have work for on a full time
basis. Many such people have the skill to build bird houses from various
materials that might be around, or which are not very expensive (e.g.,
cypress or pine off-cuts from the nearest lumber yard). Not much in the
way of tools is required.
I would be interested in knowing the dimensions / design of the 2 or
3 most successful nest boxes that Graham has been using at Naivasha
and Nairobi.
Regards, Tom
In a message dated 12/11/2009 2:14:36 P.M. E. Africa Standard Time,
jc@james-christian.com writes:
Further to Brian's queery about Graham's nest box success. I was
wondering if many people have had luck with boxes for larger species such as
owls or hornbills. I remember someone telling me how they had heard of
someone else using sisal plant stems hollowed out to make cavities. This
person then supposedly had luck with hornbills occupying his houses.
Has
anyone on this list ever made these or other boxes for larger cavity nesters
here in Kenya. Back in the states i made many which i put up for barred
owls, screech owls, woodpeckers and wood ducks. what about wood owls ?
cheers, James