Shelter Box Common Shelduck

Nesting boxes for Shelducks are relatively unknown nesting boxes that have existed for some time but in recent years, partly due to LIFE+ projects, are being placed more frequently within the EU. Shelducks search for vacant rabbit holes and sometimes even fox holes to breed in, the nesting box from Ecovery mimics this situation as closely as possible.

Above the chamber, a control tube is provided. Along this, the nest box can be cleaned or monitored and the eventual young can be ringed in a simple way. Under the sealing lid is a wooden interior that fills the tube so that the nesting space does not become unnecessarily high for the Shelduck. This can simply be taken out during inspection.

INSTALLATION
As a burrow breeder, the Shelduck is very sensitive to nest robbery by, among others, foxes and cats. 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 hill so that it is completely buried and the duck gets the impression that it is entering a natural hole. The inlet pipe must lie on the ground and not halfway up the hill and is placed as horizontally as possible. The upper control pipe, which is provided with a shielded cap, emerges at the top of the hill. A stone is placed on top 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 recommended to clean the nest box and replace the gravel, this can be done via the control pipe.