New nest boxes will await the returning rollers

Rollers are secondary cavity nesters, which means, that they don't build their own nest, but using the cavities created by larger woodpecker species. As there are less and less old trees, not many natural cavities left, so the the most important conservation activity is to install artificial nest boxes. 

By the end of April, the rollers return from their wintering grounds,Botswana and Namibia. To make sure that safe nestboxes await them, the older artificial D-type nest boxes, that have been damaged over the years, are replaced by new ones. 

The nest boxes need to be replaced from time to time

The colleagues of the Bükk National Park Directorate have been installing artificial nest boxes for rollers for over 25 years, the fruit of their hard work is the constantly increasing number of rollers.  

View from the nest box (Hevesi Füves Puszták Tájvédelmi Körzet)

However, these boxes need constant care. Within the scope of the project, we could have new, more durable nest boxes manufactured, replace the old ones and even put more out to new places. 

Installing a new nest box. 

Other species favour these nest boxes as well. Before rollers arrive, starlings and jackdaws have already occupied some of the nest boxes. 

The breeding of starlings (left) and jackdaws (right) are already in full swing. 

There are 300 artificial nest boxes in the Dél-heves Region, most of them needed to be replaced.  Due to the dry weather we could start the work early this year, so 60 nest boxes had already been replaced by the beginning of the breeding season. 

Bükki National Park Directorate
Szalakóta LIFE + species conservation officer

Prime Hype DF 2016 EP