Erecting of nest-boxes for falcons (C4)
ACTION C.4: Erection of the nest-boxes for falcons
The action aims to install proper number of the nest-boxes for falcons (mainly Kestrel) on the high voltage overhead electricity lines across whole country in order to ensure favorable conservation status, at least, of Kestrel breeding population (see attached picture "Erection of the nest-boxes for falcons"). According to the current data on Kestrel breeding population, which is as large as more than 200 pairs, almost half of them breed in the large bird nests (mainly Raven, also White stork and others), located on the pylons of high voltage electricity lines. However, according to the national and, especially, EU regulations on the maintenance of the overhead electricity lines, all additional stuff (including nests of large birds) must be removed both from the utility poles and wires. Thus, breeding Kestrels during the last years quite often faced a problem when looking for proper nesting sites then. This is why the project has proposed installation of the special nest-boxes for falcons in order to compensate lack of the former nesting places in the natural nets of the large birds. After the analysis of the distribution pattern of the Kestrel breeding population, was decided to install at least 500 nest-boxes on electricity lines pylons in different regions of Lithuania. The exact places for nest-boxes will be selected during the implementation of the project action A.3 – Elaboration of nest-boxes installation scheme for falcons in Lithuania. This information will be used to plan all the nest-boxes management activities – the sequence and pattern of nest-boxes installation on the concrete sites, their accessibility, cost-effective logistics of nest installation and further monitoring works, etc.
The action aims to install proper number of the nest-boxes for falcons (mainly Kestrel) on the high voltage overhead electricity lines across whole country in order to ensure favorable conservation status, at least, of Kestrel breeding population (see attached picture "Erection of the nest-boxes for falcons"). According to the current data on Kestrel breeding population, which is as large as more than 200 pairs, almost half of them breed in the large bird nests (mainly Raven, also White stork and others), located on the pylons of high voltage electricity lines. However, according to the national and, especially, EU regulations on the maintenance of the overhead electricity lines, all additional stuff (including nests of large birds) must be removed both from the utility poles and wires. Thus, breeding Kestrels during the last years quite often faced a problem when looking for proper nesting sites then. This is why the project has proposed installation of the special nest-boxes for falcons in order to compensate lack of the former nesting places in the natural nets of the large birds. After the analysis of the distribution pattern of the Kestrel breeding population, was decided to install at least 500 nest-boxes on electricity lines pylons in different regions of Lithuania. The exact places for nest-boxes will be selected during the implementation of the project action A.3 – Elaboration of nest-boxes installation scheme for falcons in Lithuania. This information will be used to plan all the nest-boxes management activities – the sequence and pattern of nest-boxes installation on the concrete sites, their accessibility, cost-effective logistics of nest installation and further monitoring works, etc.
Because of long-term experience in the production of the nest-boxes for birds, the coordinating beneficiary will be responsible for the manufacture of at least 500 special nest-boxes for falcons. The staff of the Lithuanian Ornithological Society working together with experts of Litgrid AB during implementation of the action A.3 will also select precise locations (at the level of concrete pylons) for the installation of the nestboxes. Whereas, associated beneficiary – Litgrid AB, will responsible for the installation of the manufactured nest-boxes on the selected sites. This principle was chosen because any work on the pylons of the electricity lines, according to the national work safety rules, is permitted by the special licensee and can be implemented by the specially trained workers only. This is also a reason that until now there are no installed nest-boxes on the electricity lines pylons at all.
The erection of nest-boxes in their place is planned before the Kestrel nesting period in order to get nestboxes occupied already during next breeding season. The installation of the nest-boxes will start during the first project year – from late autumn 2014 and will be completed in late autumn 2016.
Projektą „Paukščių apsaugos priemonių įdiegimas Lietuvos aukštos įtampos elektros energijos perdavimo tinkluose“ (LIFE13 BIO/LT/001303) finansuoja Europos Sąjungos aplinkos finansinis mechanizmas „LIFE+“, LR Aplinkos ministerija ir projekto partneriai. Projekto pradžia – 2014 m. birželis, planuojama pabaiga – 2018 m. liepa.