A new study of cavity-nesting birds in Ecuador shows the influence of deforestation on their habitat and reproductive success. Nest boxes could help.
With an extendable pole fitted with a small camera, Alison Ke could get a clear view of the inside of a nest box, including one time when a small, green Pacific parrotlet laid eggs. Ke, who earned a Ph.D. in ecology from UC Davis, led a research project to find out how converting rainforest to farmland affects the habitat of birds who rely on tree holes, or cavities, for nesting.
"When humans cut down forests for farming, it destroys their nesting habitat," Ke said."There are some species that might just disappear if we cut down the forest. It's extremely important to study the effects of agriculture on wildlife."Ke worked with researchers at the Ecuadorian NGO, Fundación para la Conservación de los Andes Tropicales, to conduct bird surveys and observe natural tree holes that were available in both forest and agricultural land.
The paper also indicates that cavity-nesting birds were found more frequently using nest boxes in tropical pastures than forests, suggesting that while they visit the farmland, they often lack the nesting resources needed to reproduce there.
Eight cavity-nesting bird species were more abundant in agriculture, which included the house wren, dusky-capped flycatcher, and the Pacific parrotlet. The collared aracari -- a kind of toucan -- was the only cavity-nesting species that was more abundant in the forest, which Ke said is likely due to the food available there.After working on this project in Ecuador, Ke created a visual fact sheet that presented details of the study, key findings, and instructions on how to build a nest box.
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Study shows deforestation limits nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birdsWith an extendable pole fitted with a small camera, Alison Ke could get a clear view of the inside of a nest box, including one time when a small, green Pacific parrotlet laid eggs. Ke, who earned a Ph.D. in ecology from UC Davis, led a research project to find out how converting rainforest to farmland affects the habitat of birds who rely on tree holes, or cavities, for nesting.
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