![]() ![]() This can potentially leave the new nest dangerously close to the entrance hole, where predators can easily reach it. If you do not clean out your nest box, it may become filled to the brim with old nesting material. Not all birds clean houseīluebirds do not remove old nesting material, rather they simply build over an existing nest. They found that there was no real difference, so regardless of who, or what, cleans out your nest box, mites will still be there. With the other boxes left for the House Wrens to clean, the researchers conducted a mite count to determine if there was a perceptible difference. To measure whether human intervention was helpful, researchers in Illinois removed old nesting material from some nest boxes that they knew successfully reared fledglings in the prior breeding season (Pacejka and Thompson 1996). Male House Wrens remove old nesting material between clutches. Male House Wrens, for example, clean out the old nesting material between clutches, essentially doing the job for you. Some birds have adapted to cope with ectoparasites, so cleaning out your nest box may not have any impact on whether they occupy it. Does removing old nests mean fewer ectoparasites? As well-constructed as some nest boxes might be, they are not immune to ectoparasites, the presence of which can deter some birds from occupying a nest box. Nest boxes provide cavity-nesting species the option to choose among several nest sites. With most birds not having the option to be choosy with their nest site selection, birds like the Eastern Bluebird simply build atop old nesting material if alternative cavities aren’t available. mites, blowfly larvae) from the old nesting material can also act as a strong deterrent for cavity selection. However, the threat of ectoparasites (e.g. Birds often choose to reuse successful natural cavities because constructing a nest from scratch requires critical and limited time and energy. With a finite number of natural cavities to choose from, most birds can’t afford to be too picky. Nest selection of natural cavities is quite different in comparison to our handy nest boxes. In natural cavities, birds often must deal with old nesting material that is already present. Once the breeding season comes to a close, our nest boxes are abandoned and the leftover nesting material remains, which leaves the question, “What should be done with old nests?” Nest boxes vs natural cavities Eastern Bluebirds In A Tree Cavity As the season progresses, we watch the naked hatchlings grow and develop into fully-feathered fledglings. Prior to the breeding season, we make sure that our nest boxes are ready for their future occupants. Steven Liffmann By Anita Tendler, Cornell Class of 2019 To Clean Or Not To Clean Your Nest Box? Photo © ![]()
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