Nest box Shelduck

Nest boxes for shelducks are relatively unknown, they have existed for quite some time. In recent years the nest boxes ar used more and more, partly due to LIFE+ projects.

Shelducks look for vacant rabbit holes and sometimes even fox holes to breed in. The Ecovery nest box imitates this situation as closely as possible. The entrance pipe has the correct diameter for a shelduck to enter comfortably and the chamber is the correct size.

An inspection tube is provided above the chamber. The nest box can be cleaned and monitored through it and youngsters can be ringed in a simple way. Under the sealing lid there is a wooden interior that fills the tube so that the nest space does not become unnecessarily high for the shelduck. This can simply be removed during inspection.

PLACEMENT
As a cave breeder, the shelduck is very sensitive to nest robbery by foxes and cats, among others. To avoid this situation as much as possible, it is always recommended to place the box on an island or a shelduck raft. Surrounded by water, the chance of nest robbery is much smaller. The nest box is placed under a mound so that it is completely buried and the duck gets the impression that it is walking into a natural den. The inlet pipe must lie on the ground and not extend halfway up the hill and must be placed as horizontally as possible. The upper control tube, which is equipped with a protective cap, ends at the top of the hill. A stone is placed so that this cap cannot go anywhere. The bottom of the nest box is filled with a layer of fine pearl gravel.

MAINTENANCE
After the young have flown out, it is advisable to clean out the nest box and replace the gravel, this can be done via the inspection tube.