Hoopoe nest box (2 Viewers)

[dond]

Hello from SW France,
has anyone had success with a Hoopoe nest box? I'm interested in dimensions and placement. I've seen the 'make a nest box' site which gives a guideline but I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had results. I have a large barn with earth walls and last year a pair of Hoopoes examined it closely inside and out but found nothing suitable. This year I want to house them.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Hello from SW France,
has anyone had success with a Hoopoe nest box? I'm interested in dimensions and placement. I've seen the 'make a nest box' site which gives a guideline but I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had results. I have a large barn with earth walls and last year a pair of Hoopoes examined it closely inside and out but found nothing suitable. This year I want to house them.

A pair on my local patch used a box a few years back - hole, to the best of my memory, was about 12 cm and the actual box about 55 cm deep. The box was mid way up a small tree. Another pair nests every year in an old building, finding cavities in the wall, ie maybe your barn is a possible locality for the box.

 

[Fud]

Hello from SW France,
has anyone had success with a Hoopoe nest box? I'm interested in dimensions and placement. I've seen the 'make a nest box' site which gives a guideline but I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had results. I have a large barn with earth walls and last year a pair of Hoopoes examined it closely inside and out but found nothing suitable. This year I want to house them.

I put up a box for red squirrels which has been taken over twice by hoopoes. It is about 6 metres up a large black poplar, well away from the house. This year I’m making two more but horizontal. One will be on a house wall, the other on another big tree, but not too high to discourage starlings. Watch this space...

 

[PYRTLE]

Fantastic images Fud.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Hi Fud

Welcome to Birdforum- I agree with Pat, fantastic images. I have actually never seen a Hoopoe using a nest box so your images are of great interest.

Perhaps you could start your own ‘Hoopoe diaries’ thread?

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm just going to jump in here and wish you, Fud, a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[Protea]

I put up a box for red squirrels which has been taken over twice by hoopoes. It is about 6 metres up a large black poplar, well away from the house. This year I’m making two more but horizontal. One will be on a house wall, the other on another big tree, but not too high to discourage starlings. Watch this space...

Hello Fud, I've recently moved to an abandoned property with pine trees - and completely new to the life of birds. What would you call the box you put up and hoopoes used it? I would like to attract hoopoes here, but don't know what kind of bird box I should (try) and construct. Any info would be useful. Thank you

 

[Mike Crawley]

Every day is a school day - had absolutely no idea the Hoopoe would uses nestbox

 

[Farnboro John]

Photo attached is an adult Hoopoe feeding young in a nestbox in Hungary cut from a section of tree trunk and a hole drilled in the side. The entire thing was then roped to a tree by a permanent photography hide. I think you'll agree its working.....

John

 

[pianoman]

What a sensational picture

 

[Farnboro John]

What a sensational picture

TYVM! It was part of a photography package with the local tour leader.

John

 

[Fud]

2024 update: a male arrived on 21 March and called briefly. He was taking food to the nest box by 10 April. At the end of April both parents were feeding their brood. To avoid disturbance I do not normally open the nest box so cannot say how many young there are. On 15 May the adults were feeding the first fledged young away from the box.
On 24 May the male started calling again. This is unusual - I think the female left with her brood. He called continuously until 29 May when we actually saw a new female arrive. He flew ahead of her to the nest box and after 10 minutes she joined him. He hasn't called since and is now (6 June) feeding her steadily so we expect a second brood like last year.
Photo of a squirrel inspecting a fledgling hoopoe.
Details of the next box dimensions, hole size, positioning, etc. will be posted presently.

 

[Fud]

2024 update: a male arrived on 21 March and called briefly. He was taking food to the nest box by 10 April. At the end of April both parents were feeding their brood. To avoid disturbance I do not normally open the nest box so cannot say how many young there are. On 15 May the adults were feeding the first fledged young away from the box.
On 24 May the male started calling again. This is unusual - I think the female left with her brood. He called continuously until 29 May when we actually saw a new female arrive. He flew ahead of her to the nest box and after 10 minutes she joined him. He hasn't called since and is now (6 June) feeding her steadily so we expect a second brood like last year.
Photo of a squirrel inspecting a fledgling hoopoe.
Details of the next box dimensions, hole size, positioning, etc. will be posted presently.

Apologies, the squirrel photo didn't upload with my update above. Here it is again.