Abstract Modern agriculture and the resulting changes in land use and characteristics of agroecosystems have led to dramatic consequences on bird populations. The loss of natural structures and habitat homogenization directly affects secondary‐cavity nesters, reducing biodiversity and the potential ecosystem services that such species provide. We assessed the role of artificial nest boxes in supporting bird breeding communities in intensively farmed areas, evaluating the use of 247 nest boxes across organic crops (vineyards, apple orchards and mixed systems) over 2 years, considering the possible effect of different drivers of nest box use (environmental, topographical and management factors). Most birds occupying the nest boxes were primarily insectivorous, potentially contributing to pest control in permanent crops. The small and medium nest boxes, designed for tits, had the highest success. Nest box placement height showed a quadratic effect: boxes placed at intermediate height were more frequently occupied (with a predicted peak in occupation rate at 3.19 m above the ground). Nest box use was positively associated with forest patch perimeter, hedgerow length and tree and shrub cover. Nest boxes used in the first year were predicted to be reused, indicating site fidelity. Practical implications: In landscapes dominated by permanent crop, artificial nest boxes successfully provide additional nesting opportunities and potentially support bird‐mediated ecosystem services (e.g. pest control). Nevertheless, structural heterogeneity and landscape complexity were key predictors of nest box use, emphasizing the importance of combining the use of artificial nests with the preservation of natural habitat elements and ecological connectivity. These findings provide practical insights for improving and supporting biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes.
Granata et al. (Wed,) studied this question.