An assessment on artificial nest construction for hornbills in Budo-Sungai Padi National Park, Thailand

Abstract

A total of 19 artificial nests were installed in Budo-Sungai Padi National Park, southern Thailand, in 2004. These nests were constructed by hand from fiber reinforced plastic and insulated with poly-urethane foam. Since 2006, the number of artificial nests that have been used by hornbills has increased continuously. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of the artificial nests by comparing hornbill nesting behaviour between artificial nests and natural nests. Hornbills had similar behaviours both in natural and artificial nests: hornbill visiting frequencies during nest visiting period, which is the period in which they select nests, for artificial nests and natural nests were 2.16 times/12 hours ± 1.27 SD and 1.35 times/12 hours ± 1.00 SD, respectively; visiting durations for artificial nests and natural nests during nesting periods were 7.21 minute/time ± 6.95 SD and 8.09 minute/ time ± 7.19 SD, respectively; and nesting duration for artificial nests and natural nests were 121.3 days ± 4.16 SD and 122.6 days ± 15.7 SD, respectively. Microclimates of both natural and artificial nests indicated that the natural nests have better temperature and humidity control capability than the artificial nests. Artificial nests are a successful tool to increase the number of suitable nest cavities for wild Great Hornbills.