Wildlife

Wild Goldeneye Nest Box Breeding Welfare

Goldeneye use nest boxes in Scottish woodland, and targeted provision has enabled population growth in areas where natural tree cavities are scarce.

Key Facts

Goldeneye breed in holes in trees near freshwater lakes and rivers in Scotland
Natural tree holes are scarce in managed woodland, limiting breeding opportunities
Nest boxes provided by RSPB and others have significantly increased Scottish breeding numbers
Females show strong natal site fidelity, returning to breed near where they were born
Ducklings must leap from the nest hole after hatching, often from considerable height

Welfare Considerations

Goldeneye nest box provision is a highly cost-effective conservation intervention that directly benefits individual breeding success and population welfare in Scotland.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB Scotland's goldeneye nest box programme through donation
Record goldeneye breeding activity near Scottish freshwater sites for monitoring
Advocate for old tree retention policies that support natural cavity availability