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Use of Nesting Boxes on Young Loblolly Pine
Plantations 1
George A. Hurst 2
Abstract.--Use of nesting boxes, 17-45 per area from
1977-83, on 2 loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in
Mississippi was monitored from plantation age 1-7 years.
Most of the use (nest attempts) was made by the eastern bluebird (Sial~a sialis) with total use by the bluebird and the
Carolina c ickadee (Parus carolinensis) being 32%, 139 nest
attempts, over the 7-year period. Bluebird use of and
production in the boxes was highest at plantation age 3 and
was lowest at age 7. Chickadee use began with 1 nest
attempt on each plantation at age 3 (1979) and use remained
low, 2 or 3 attempts/year, on 1 plantation. Attempts on the
other plantation numbered 4 (1980) and 3 (1981) but increased
to 10 (1982) and 8 (1983).
INTRODUCTION
Southern forests are expected to produce more
wood products with the increase in pine (Pinus
spp.) production occurring on intensively managed
pine plantations. Often, mature pine-hardwood
forests are converted to pine plantations. Some
20.25 million ha of pine-hardwood forests might be
converted to plantations (Walstad 1976). There are
about 11.7 million ha of pine plantations in the
South, and over 0.41 million ha are being esfablished annually (Mann 1975, Montgomery 1983 ).
After a pine-hardwood forest is clearcut
the area is site prepared by chemical or mechanical methods. Chemical methods can create many
snags, but mechanical methods such as tree-crush,
roller-chop, or shear-rake-disk-bed destroy most
existing and potential snags.
Some secondary cavity nesters will use nesting boxes, and boxes have been tried in some forest
types in the South (McComb and Nobel 1981). Nesting boxes have been placed in forests in England
and Europe (Franz 1961, Cambell 1968). This study
1
Paper presented at the Snag Habitat Management Symposium. Northern Arizona Univ., Flagstaf~, June 7-9, 1983.
George A. Hurst, Professor, Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.
3Montgomery, J.M.
1983. Personal conversation. Southern Forest Institute, Atlanta, GA.
was conducted to detenmine use of nesting boxes
on pine plantations age 1-7 years.
STUDY AREAS
Two loblolly pine plantations near Longview
(Oktibbeha County), Mississippi, in the Interior
Flatwoods Land Resource Area of the Upper Coastal
Plain were used (Pettry 1977). Each plantation
was 65 ha in size and was located about 1.6 km
apart (Hurst 1980a).
Both areas had been about 50-year-old pinehardwood forests dominated by pine, oak (Quercus
spp.), and hickories (Carya spp.). The forests
were clearcut in the summer and site prepared in
the fall of 1976. Site preparation consisted of
shearing, windrowing, and bedding. Pine seedlings
were hand-planted on a 2.1 ~ 2.4 m spacing or
1,922 trees/ha in March 1977.
Annual and perennial forbs, grasses, sedges,
and vines were the dominant plants for 2 years
with pine trees, hardwood brush, and blackberry
(Rubus ar utus dominating the plantations thereafter Dar en 1980). Pine trees averaged 1.8 m
tall after the third growing season. At the
end of the sixth growing season average pine
stand conditions were dbh 8.79 em, height 5.3 m,
basal area 12.6 m2/ha and stocking 1,634
trees/ha.
Both plantations were surrounded by mature
pine-hardwood forests until 1978. From 1978 to
1982 a total of 583 ha of pine-hardwood forests
155
near the study areas was converted to pine plantations. Some small hayfields and pastures were
in the vicinity of the study areas.
Bluebirds used plastic jugs and wooden
boxes with 3.8 and 5.1 em holes, but they would
not use boxes with 3.2 em holes (Zeleny 1976);
therefore bluebird use of acceptable boxes was
84 (30%) of 280 boxes. Multiple use of boxes by
bluebirds was 102 (36%) of 280.
METHODS
Bluebird production, based on number of
nest attenpts, number of eggs laid and hatched,
and number of fledglings produced, peaked at
plantation age 3 and was lowest at age 7 (Table
2). Of the 102 bluebird nest attempts 82% were
successful, i.e. produced at least 1 fledgling.
A total of 427 bluebird eggs was laid, of which
351 (82%) hatched and 328 (93%) of the nestlings
fledged. Average clutch size was 4.5 (3-6).
In March 1977, 40 wooden nesting boxes with
4 different dimensions, e.g. 10.2 x 10.2 x 20.3
em and 12.7 x 12.7 x 20.3 em, were placed on each
plantation (Hurst et al. 1979). In addition 5
plastic milk jugs (4.55 1), which were painted
white and had 3.8 am entrance holes, were erected
on each plantation (Stewart 1976). Jugs were on
the plantations only in 1977 and 1978. The wooden
boxes had entrance hole diameters of 3.2, 3.8, and
5.1 em. The number of boxes on the plantations
changed over the study period (Table 1). Three
boxes, 15.2 x 15.2 x 38.1 em, with 5.1 em entrance holes, were placed on large trees on 1
pine-hardwood/plantation edge. These boxes were
removed after the 1978 nesting season.
Chickadees began using boxes at plantation
age 3, with 1 nest attempt on each area. The
number of nest attempts on plantation number 1
was 2 (1980, 1981, 1983) and 3 (1982). Plantation number 2 had 4 nest attempts in 1980, 3
(1981), 10 {1982) and 8 (1983). Twenty seven
(75%) of the 36 chickadee nest attempts were successful. A total of 190 chickadee eggs was laid
of which 134 (70%) hatched and 118 (88%) of the
nestlings fledged. Average clutch size was
5. 4 (2-7).
The boxes were attached to creosoted posts
with a diameter of 7.6 em and the posts were
driven into the ground so that the entrance holes
were about 1.37 m above ground. In 1983 some
boxes were wired to pine trees and other boxes
were attached to 3.81 em diameter polyvinyl
chloride pipe, which was placed over a steel rod.
Both the rod and pipe were pushed into the ground
and a box was clamped to the pipe.
Chickadees used boxes with 3.2 and 3.8 em
holes and used boxes on posts, on pvc pipe, and
boxes wired to trees. Chickadees began nesting
in mid-March and fledging was over by late May.
Bluebird nesting began in late March to early
April with most fledging completed by late July.
Bluebirds built their nests on active chickadee
nests on 4 occasions.
In 1977 and 1978 the boxes were placed in 5
rows, which were about 55 m apart. The first row
was about 20 m fran a pine-hardwood forest. This
row was removed after the 1978 nesting season.
Boxes within a row were about 55 m apart. In
1979 the distance between rows and between boxes
within rows was increased to about 91.4 m, and the
number of rows was increased to 6 on one area and
7 on the other area. The number of rows was
changed to 5 on both areas in 1981. The boxes
were on an area of about 16.2 ha in 1977 and 1978,
and about 34 ha in 1979-83.
Box use was monitored
from March through August.
February. Some vegetation
walking conditions between
the boxes more visible.
Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
made 2 nest attempts in boxes on the plantation/
forest edge. Wrens did not use boxes in the
plantations.
Losses of eggs and nestlings were attributed to the imported red fire ant (Solenopsis
victa) and the little black ant (Monomorium
minimum) (Hurst 1980b). Other losses were
caused by a raccoon (Procyon lotor) and a snake.
Nest abandonment occurred sporidleally but was a
major cause of unsuccessful bluebird nests on
plantation number 2 in 1980.
at 7-10 day intervals
Boxes were cleaned in
was cut to improve
boxes and to make
Creosote was poured on the lower part of
posts that had active nests in 1977 and 1978.
Conical metal guards were placed on some posts
with active nefttS from 1979-83. A 5 em wide
band of Stikem (Polymerized 1-Butene) was placed
on all posts with active nests in 1979-83.
DISCUSSION
Use of boxes on the plantations was limited
to the bluebird and the chickadee. Bluebird use
of boxes was 30% {single use) and 36% (multiple
use) over the 7-year period, which was less than
the 49% use reported for bluebird trails in 1982
(Dupree 1983). Bluebird use of the boxes was
highest at plantation age 3 with major declines
in use at age 6 and 7. Heard (1979) found much
greater bluebird use of boxes on ne~ clearcuts
than on older plantations, age 4-8, in North
Carolina. Mature pine-hardwood forests are not
preferred bluebird breeding habitat so the ere-
RESULTS
Bluebirds and Carolina chickadees used a
total of 114 (26%) of a possible 436 boxes over
the 7-year period, based on single use of a box.
Multiple use of a box by 1 or both species was
32%, 139 uses of 436 boxes.
·
156
Table 1.--Use of nesting boxes by bluebirds and Carolina
chickadees in two loblolly pine plantations, Longview,
Mississippi.
Year
No. boxes by
entrance hole
diameter (em)
Plantation
Age(Yr) No.
3.2
3.8
5.1
No.
boxes
used 1
No. times
a single box
was used
1
2
3
Use (~)
of all
boxes
Use (~)
by
bluebirds 3
---
1977
1
1
2
19
29
21
14
5
2
9
5
9
3
0
2
0
0
20
11
35
31
1978
2
1
2
19
22
21
21
5
1
4
4
3
0
1
3
0
1
9
9
15
18
1979
3
1
2
11
22
19
5
1
11
11
12
10
5
0
5
1
1
29
39
37
60
1980
4
1
2
8
3
22
18
0
0
10
9
9
8
1
1
0
0
33
43
41
33
1981
5
1
2
8
1
14
20
0
0
11
5
9
2
2
0
0
32
52
36
45
1982
6
1
2
2
1
16
16
0
0
5
15
5
13
0
2
0
0
28
88
12
38
7
1
2
10
12
17
20
0
0
3
3
9
0
0
0
0
11
9
6
5
1983
4
7
28
1
Use was considered to be a complete nest in which at least 1 egg was laid.
2Percent use was figured on first use only, does not include multiple use of the
same box.
3Bluebird use was figured for boxes with 3.8 or 5.1 em entrance holes.
4 Use was monitored only through June 1.
Table 2.--Bluebird production in nesting boxes in two loblolly
pine plantations, age 1-7 years, Longview, Mississippi.
Nest Attempts 1
1
2
1
2
6
7
9
15
2
8
5
1
47
3
0
5
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
2
4
2
2
0
10
5
7
9
7
2
1
37
Laid
Unsuc.
Sue.
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
198_22
1983
Total
Eggs
Number Fledged
Hatched
2
1
2
1
2
33 29
23 38
45 72
41 22
33 45
10 27
4
5
189 238
22
23
34
33
29
28
36
61
8
38
22
4
197
22
23
27
31
25
9
4
141
28
36
57
8
34
20
4
187
1
1An
9
4
154
attempt was considered to be a complete nest in which at least 1 egg was
laid. Suc=successful means at least 1 bluebird fledged. Unsuc=unsuccessful means no
fledglings were produced.
2Use was monitored only through June 1.
157
Fleet, J.C. Kroll, and J.A. Jackson eds.
The role of insectivorous birds in forest
ecosystems. Academic Press NY, 381pp.
Darden, T.L., Jr. 1980. Bird communities in
managed loblolly-shortleaf pine stands in
east-central Mississippi. M.S. Thesis,
Dept. Wildl. and Fish., Mississippi State
Univ., 117pp.
Dickson, J.G., R.N. Conner, and J.H. Williamson.
1980. Relative abundance of breeding birds
in forest stands in the Southeast. South.
J. Applied For. 4:174-179.
Dupree, D.C. 1983. 1982 nesting box report.
Sialia 5:62-64.
Evans, K.E., and R.N. Conner. 1979. Snag management. Pages 214-255 ~ R.M. DeGraaf, Tech.
Coord. Proc. of the Workshop management of
Northcentral and Northeastern forests for
nongame birds. USDA For. Serv., Northcent.
For. E~p. Stn., St. Paul, MN. Gen. Tech.
Rep. NC-51. 268pp.
Franz, J.M. 1961. Biological control of pest
insects in Europe. Annu. Rev. Entomol.
6:183-200.
Hamel, P.B., H.E. LeGrand, Jr., M.R. Lennartz,
and S.A. Gauthreaux, Jr. 1982. Birdhabitat relationships on Southeastern forest
lands. USDA Forest Serv., Southeastern For.
Exp. St., Ashville, NC Gen. Tech. Rep.
SE-22. 417pp.
Heard, J.L. 1979. Utilization of three age
classes of pine monoculture by breeding bluebirds in North Carolina. M.S. Thesis. North
Carolina State Univ., Raleigh. 45pp.
Hurst, G.A., R.C. Warren, and M.Y. Grant. 1979.
Nesting box trails on clearcut pine plantations. Sialia 1:46-51.
• 1980a. Eastern bluebird production
-----in nesting boxes in pine plantations. Proc.
Ann. Conf. S.E. Assoc. Fish and Wildl.
Agencies 35:100-105.
• 1980b. Possible predation by ants on
--nestlings in nesting boxes. The Mississippi Kite 10:3-4.
Johnson, A.S., and J.L. Landers. 1982. Habitat
relationships of summer resident birds in
slash pine flatwoods. J. Wildl. Manage.
46:416-428.
Mann, W.F., Jr. 1975. Progress and trends in
artificial regeneration. For. Farmer Manual
34:48-50.
McComb, W.C. and R.E. Nobel. 1981. Nest-box
and natural-cavity use in three mid-south
forest habitats. J. Wildl. Manage. 45:
93-101.
Pettry, D.E. 1977. Soil resource areas of Mississippi. Miss. Agric. & For. Exp. Stn.,
Info. Sheet No. 1278. Miss. State Univ.
4pp.
Stewart, P.A. 1976. Plastic jugs for nesting
bluebirds. Inland Bird Banding News 48:
66-68.
Walstad, J.D. 1976. Weed control for better
southern pine management. Weyerhaeuser Co.
For. Pap. No. 15. Hot Springs, AR. 44pp.
Zeleny, L. 1976. The bluebird: How you can help
its fight for survival. Ind. Univ. Press,
Bloomington, IN. 170pp.
ation of clearcuts and the addition of artificial nesting cavities benefitted this species.
Chickadees were said to be most canmon in
mixed pine-hardwood forests, and the breeding
habitat was mature woods (Hamel et al. 1982).
Dickson et al. (1980) and Johnson and Landers
(1982) found that chickadees had low relative
abundances in loblolly-shortleaf (P. echinata)
and slash pine (P. elliottii) plantations in the
South. McComb and Nobel [1981) found little use
of~esting boxes by chickadees in 3 mature forest
types, including a pine-hardwood forest in Mississippi. Chickadee use of boxes on the pine plantations began at age 3 and remained low on 1 plantation, but increased considerably on the other
plantation, 10 nest attempts, at age 6. Perhaps
Carolina chickadee populations can be increased
by nest box programs in loblolly pine plantations
(Dahlsten and Copper 1979) and provide some
insect control (Evans and Conner 1979).
The reason other secondary cavity nesters
did not use the boxes on the plantations might
be explained as follows. First, most of this
part of Mississippi is still in mature, mixedtype forests, which have no apparent lack of
snags/cavities. Also, there are active nesting
box programs in the area. Lack of suitable
nesting boxes was another reason for limited use
of plantations. The great crested flycatcher
(Myiarchus crinitus used nesting boxes on lobl~pine plantat ons age 5-7 in Louisiana 4•
Suitable flycatcher boxes were on these study
areas only at plantation age 1 and 2. Vegetative conditions were unacceptable to the tufted
titmouse {Parus bicolor), a species that prefers
deciduous woods to pine (Hamel et al. 1982).
Carolina wrens used boxes placed on the mature
pine-hardwood forest/plantation edge but not
boxes in the dense vegetation on the plantation. Perhaps the lack of a woodland canopy was
the limiting factor (Hamel et al. 1982).
Vegetative conditions changed rapidly in the
pine plantations affecting the plant community
surrounding the boxes. Use of nesting boxes
should be determined throughout a short, 25-35
years, rotation and following various intermediate silvicultural treatments, such as preconvnercial thinning and controlled burning.
LITERATURE CITED
Cambell, B. 1968. The·Dean nestbox study, 19421964. Forestry 41:27-46.
Dahlsten, D.C., and W.A. Copper. 1979. The use
of nesting boxes to study the biology of
the mountain chickadee (Parus gambelli) and
the impact on selected forest insects. Pages
217-260 in J.G. Dickson, R.N. Conner, R.R.
4Robert Hamilton, School of Forestry and
Wildlife Management, Louisiana State Univ.,
Baton Rouge, LA.
158