16th February 2011

 

Nidderdale AONB Conservation Volunteers have been installing nest boxes in Pateley Bridge this week as part of National Nest Box Week.

 

Running from the 14^th to the 21^st February each year, National Nest Box Week, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) encourages people to put up nest boxes in their local area to help promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife.

 

In total twelve nest boxes were put up around Pateley Bridge Millennium Green on Tuesday to provide homes for a number of bird species such as great tit, blue tit, house sparrow and maybe even the declining tree sparrow. Natural nesting sites that many of our bird species depend on, such as holes in trees and buildings, are disappearing fast and so nest boxes are becoming increasingly important in helping birds to survive.

 

The varied landscape of the AONB provides valuable habitats for many bird species and it is vitally important that we help to support these species.

 

AONB Ranger Colin Slator said, "We at the AONB, working with the Nidderdale Conservation Volunteers, are always keen to put some type of bird box up as part of National Nest Box Week. However, you can't just put bird boxes up ad hoc as they will be not be successful. Boxes need to be in a habitat that will supply food for the chicks in the boxes through the spring and summer. The Millennium Green has got the right type of habitat to sustain breeding birds and therefore we made and put these boxes up on behalf of Pateley Bridge Town Council."