Nest Boxes Increased Presence of American Kestrels in a Blueberry Production Region Despite Low Box Occupancy

Abstract

Landscape enhancements such as nest boxes can attract birds to agricultural areas, where they can provide ecosystem services such as pest reduction through their consumption of crop pests. However, there are large gaps in knowledge about how birds respond to enhancements. From 2014 to 2018 we installed American Kestrel (Falco sparverius; hereafter kestrel) nest boxes in a blueberry production region in western Michigan. From 2015 to 2018 we conducted surveys to monitor kestrel presence along 1.6-km transect segments (hereafter, sites) to estimate kestrel occupancy in areas with and without boxes. We also monitored box occupancy and reproductive success. Kestrel presence increased over time in the study area although there was some uncertainty in this trend. The presence of a box at a site did not increase kestrel presence there, but boxes in neighboring sites did increase presence. This indicated that enriching an area with boxes increases kestrel presence. Box occupancy rates were positively influenced by occupancy of the same box the previous year. Percent successful nests ranged from 75 to 100 percent, and mean number of fledglings produced was approximately 4 per nest box. Our results showed that nest boxes can serve as effective landscape enhancements to attract kestrels to agricultural landscapes, but the degree to which kestrels occupy boxes can vary geographically. Local-scale studies can provide information about the potential benefits and challenges of using nest boxes as a pest management tool.

Utilizing artificial nesting platforms as a management tool: enhancing breeding productivity of Western Flycatchers ( Empidonax difficilis occidentalis ) in southwestern Colorado and southern Arizona, USA

“…But in an area that contains more suitable natural nesting sites and higher adult populations, like Mt Lemmon, AZ, the addition of nesting platforms did not increase breeding bird numbers. The increase in adult Western Cordilleran Flycatcher numbers that we documented in Colorado is like what has been found when nest boxes have been added to hole-nesting bird species (Mänd et al 2009, Hannay et al 2022.…”

“…The addition of 4-sided nest boxes has been shown to increase breeding bird numbers and enhance productivity of numerous hole-nesting birds around the world (Kluijver 1951, Perrins 1979, Brawn and Balda 1988, Fargallo et al 2001, Sutherland et al 2004, Mänd et al 2009, Hepp and Bellrose 2013, Norris et al 2018, Hannay et al 2022. In North America, nest boxes for the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) have been erected over much of the continent during the last 50 years, and breeding populations have responded by increasing at an overall continental rate of approximately 6% per year (Hepp and Bellrose 2013).…”

Cavity‐nesting birds are limited by nesting habitat in Neotropical agricultural landscapes

“…These ecosystem services could increase tree regeneration (though they could promote spread of weedy species) and the economic and biodiversity value of tropical forests (Sethi & Howe, 2009). Even low nest box occupancy levels could increase bird presence and ecosystem services on farms (Hannay et al, 2022). Ultimately, coupling farmer education campaigns about ecosystem services provided by cavity‐nesting birds with incentives for maintaining remnant trees and installing nest boxes could help mitigate cavity limitation and bolster bird populations in tropical agricultural systems.…”

“…These ecosystem services could increase tree regeneration (though they could promote spread of weedy species) and the economic and biodiversity value of tropical forests (Sethi & Howe, 2009). Even low nest box occupancy levels could increase bird presence and ecosystem services on farms (Hannay et al, 2022). Ultimately, coupling farmer education campaigns…”