Abstract
Modernization of urban buildings can decrease the availability of nesting sites in buildings, leading to sudden decreases in the density of avifauna. In this study, we investigated the use of nest boxes as a bird conservation measure after buildings were thermally modernized. In a 10 ha experimental area we mounted five types of nest boxes of different sizes and dimensions (a total of 132). Nest boxes were dedicated to species that lost access to their previous nesting sites. All species associated with the buildings significantly declined or disappeared. In the first year after the modernization, the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) decreased by 66% compared with the period before the modernization, Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) by 68%, Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) by 70%, and Common Swift (Apus apus) by 100%. In the first two years after the modernization, the birds nested only in nest boxes. Five years of monitoring showed that using nest boxes as compensation for bird nesting sites lost during the renovation of buildings can cause a population to recover to ca. 50% of its original level. To optimize deployments of nest boxes, wildlife managers should consider target species’ preferences for the dimensions and placement of boxes and limit the time boxes are used if a species prefers nesting outside nest-boxes, but in buildings (e. g. the House Sparrow) and does not require additional support.
Highlights
Cities are home to many bird species, offering numerous breeding places within buildings and technical structures
Nest boxes were introduced to replace lost nesting places in buildings after renovation of their facades, during which all the cavities in walls and ventilation outlets were permanently sealed and the buildings became inaccessible to birds
In the first two years all broods occurred only in nest boxes hung on the buildings
Summary
Cities are home to many bird species, offering numerous breeding places within buildings and technical structures. Some species of urban avifauna only nest in man-made structures. These include, among others, species currently decreasing across Europe, such as the House Martin (Delichon urbicum), which is listed as SPEC 2, and the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Common Swift (Apus apus), listed as SPEC 3 (BirdLife International 2017). Over 60% of all breeding pairs of species inhabiting old towns (city centers) and new housing estates with low vegetation diversity can use buildings for nesting (Dulisz and Nowakowski 1996). Populations of species that exploit urban environments can reach high densities and stable sizes. The population success (stable abundances, high survivorship, high fecundity) of urban-exploiters is associated with other factors, such as the availability of additional food sources of anthropogenic origin, fewer predators, ameliorated climate, and milder winter conditions (Marzluff 2001)
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