Hi,
Thought this might be interesting :
In 2007 I undertook this pilot study on my forested property at Shahapur, 100
kms north of Bombay.
https://picasaweb.google.com/113756149687515321536?feat=email
Ten nesting boxes were constructed in August 2007 and were put up in-situ in
December 2007 [Please see Nesting Boxes 1 in the link].
In photograph 2 –
- the top left was meant for Mynas
- the top middle was for Woodpeckers
- the top right for Barn Owls
- the boxes in the lower row were for cavity nesters / hole-nesting
birds.
The study has carried on to the present day.
My observations: [Please see Nesting Boxes 2 in the link].
- Most of the openings of the nesting-boxes were enlarged either by
squirrels or other rodents [ photograph 1]
- Perches on the nesting boxes had to be removed in some to discourage
squirrel activity [photograph 1].
- Marauding tribals trashed many of the boxes [photograph 2] either
out of curiosity or to get at the squirrel drey’s inside [photograph 5].
- Trashed nesting boxes were at times repaired and reused [photograph
3]
- Only one nesting box was used for the purpose for which they were
meant – a pair of Oriental Magpie-robins managed 2 broods in one year [2009]
and that too in a trashed box [photograph 4].
- Many other animals used the boxes [photographs 5 -14].
At present only one nesting-box remains. As the experiment was a relative
failure, I have terminated it.
With regards,
Neil Soares.
P.S. – My thanks to Jayesh Timbadia for creating this link and also for
assisting me in this study
