Starlings also feed on leatherjackets and chafer grubs, but due to their finer beak, they don't cause damage to the lawn. An additional advantage is that starlings breed earlier in the year than crows and rooks. At the moment, demand is higher due to the presence of the young.
Koksijde Golf ter Hille has a long tradition of focusing on biodiversity. A golf course is a unique natural landscape, but it also has its challenges. Golf courses, but also football fields, struggle with nuisance caused by chafer grubs and leatherjackets. Chafer grubs are larvae of various beetles that feed on the underground parts of the grass plant. Leatherjackets are larvae of crane flies. These larvae feed on the green parts of the grass. In addition, crows and other birds cause a lot of damage to the grass while searching for the larvae.
By installing 2 starling nesting boxes, the chafer grubs and leatherjackets are ecologically controlled. To make the nesting boxes even more attractive to starlings, several fruit trees were planted around the nesting boxes.
Near the main building there were already house martins present. To let the population grow, a house martinmarten lodge was installed on the parking lot. This lodge has space for 30 nests.
In addition, the combination of the open landscape and the water features on the site is an interesting location for storks.
Client
Koksijde Golf ter Hille
Year
2021
