Double vs. Single Box Effectiveness

MWDI has begun a multi-year study to document nest use & productivity from double box configurations compared to single box mounts. Previously, it was an accepted resource practice to mount multiple boxes on single poles due to cost and maintenance efficiencies as the detrimental impact on productivity caused by increased nest strife, lower hatch rates and increased abandonment were not readily appreciated. Clustering (i.e., placing boxes in relatively close proximity to each other) whether single and double box mounts was also an accepted practice for similar perceived efficiency reasons.

Today, while there is a greater appreciation of the detrimental effects nest box clustering may have, the use of double box mounts is still a common practice. As a result, MWDI felt that it would be useful to evaluate whether this practice had a positive, neutral or negative productivity impact and under what circumstances it might be cost effective.

Related to this analysis, especially where overall nest dumping and strife are known to exist, MWDI will increasingly experiment with delayed or staggered nest openings of one of the double mounted boxes to see if this type of “de-clustering” approach might yield beneficial results.

These are the type of studies that are feasible and will become more statistically significant as the state wide data base grows. Additional private program participants are sought to join this study. Site specific and sponsor data are kept confidential.