Nest box programs supplement natural cavity nesting habitat for birds, directly improving breeding success and welfare for cavity-nesting species in deforested landscapes.
Nest box programs provide direct welfare benefits to cavity-nesting birds by supplementing the ancient trees and natural cavities that deforestation has removed from landscapes. Successful programs improve breeding success, reduce predation mortality, and increase winter survival rates for target species. However, poorly designed or maintained boxes can cause welfare harm — boxes that allow predator access, overheat in direct sun, or accumulate parasites become welfare liabilities. Well-designed programs use species-specific box dimensions and entrance sizes, appropriate placement and orientation, regular cleaning and monitoring, and predator guard installation. These programs represent some of the most impactful direct welfare actions available to individual citizens.