The volunteer activity will take place at various locations in the West Midlands during the British Trust for Ornithology's National Nest Box Week. The aim is to install over 20 nesting boxes to existing study sites.
Paul Wilkinson, ecologist for the Canal & River Trust, said: “Providing vital shelters for our special creatures such as bats, birds and other mammals is a great way to ensure that these wonderful animals have places to make their homes along our waterways. Not only will the boxes encourage them to breed but they will provide excellent protection from predators and, in the long term, help boost local populations.”
Valuable habitat
Volunteers will be required to help the ecologists from the Trust choose the right location for the boxes and install them along various canal locations. As well as helping to put up new boxes volunteers will also be asked to help check and remove debris from established nest boxes so they are ready for this year's visitors.
Paul said: “Our local canals and rivers provide an excellent food source for a whole variety of animals as they are teeming with all kinds of bugs and insects. I hope that by providing more homes for these wonderful animals they will be encouraged to live right alongside the waterways. These new boxes will attract blue tits, great tits and willow tits along with bats such as the soprano pipistrelle and daubenton's. ”
For more information on how you can get involved with activities along your local stretch of waterway please call 030 3040 4040, email [email protected] or visit http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/events
