Nesting Boxes / Wildlife Hollows

Attracting Native Wildlife

Loss of habitat has had a dramatic impact on many native animals. Old growth trees containing natural hollows are now rare in urban and many rural environments. Natural hollows are better than nesting boxes for native species to shelter and/or nest in for a number of reasons: Native fauna and natural hollows have evolved together.

A natural hollow, because of the influence of the living tree, moderates the internal temperature compared to the external environment – making the hollow cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather.Natural hollows also provide a more appropriate humidity for species that utilize such resources.

While a nesting box (roosting) is not a true replacement for natural hollows. For impoverished habitats and urban environments supplementing the available resources by building your own wildlife hollow or purchasing a commercially available nesting box can help provide much needed nesting and roosting habitat.

You can discover which local wildlife species (e.g. parrots, possums, bats) depend on hollows or nesting boxes in your area, through your local museum, natural history organisation or Department for Environment. Further information is available on the range of wildlife boxes currently available from fauNature – Nesting Boxes.