The hoopoe frequents semi-open cultivated environments such as orchards, vineyards, pastures and hedgerows, provided they are richly structured.
It nests in woodpecker holes, the natural cavities of old trees and the crevices of buildings. It is also happy to nest in nesting boxes, provided the surrounding environment is suitable.
If you live near such habitats, here's how and where to place a nest box:
Outdoors:
- Fix the nesting box against a tree or an outside wall, approx. 1.5 m from the ground.
- Incline the roof of the nesting box to allow rainwater to run off.
Indoors:
- Install the nesting box in a garden shed, garden cottage or similar building.
- Fix the nesting box no higher than 1.5 m from the ground, with an entrance hole cut in one of the walls of the shed for direct access to the outside.
In a dry-stone wall:
- Call in a specialist.
- Consider creating a watertight cavity.
- Consider the visual integration of the nesting box into the wall.
Approximate size of a nesting box :
- one Ø 6cm hole
- a box 25 cm wide, 30 cm high, 25 cm deep
Please note! Nesting boxes must remain easily accessible for annual maintenance. Line the bottom with sawdust or a similar material during installation and after each cleaning.
Additional conservation measures :
Habitat diversity is vital for the Huppe. The installation of a nesting box should therefore be accompanied by the following measures.
- creating or maintaining areas of bare ground,
- differentiated mowing or extensive grazing,
- creating small structures such as piles of dead wood,
- sowing meadows,
- planting native shrubs,
- Planting tall fruit trees, pollarded willows or other large, isolated trees.
Preserving old trees, limiting the use of pesticides in favor of extensive farming and networking suitable nesting sites also contribute to the conservation of the Huppe.
