Nesting Boxes for biodiversity
There is no requirement to put up nesting boxes; rather, this practice naturally goes hand in hand with ecological thinking and with creating a more balanced environment for crops such as rosehip. In ecological farming systems, supporting wildlife is not an obligation but a conscious choice that enhances the stability of the plantation. Since rosehip is a relatively newly introduced crop in large-scale production, there is still very limited scientific literature describing the specific pests and pathogens that appear in this type of plantation. Much of the available knowledge is based on growers’ observations and comparisons with related fruit crops, which further underscores how valuable ecological approaches can be. The professional supervision of plant protection, ecological management and our entire ornithological programme is overseen by Dr. Ádám Koczor, whose expertise ensures that these principles are applied consistently and effectively.
It can be clearly observed in natural habitats that rosehip shrubs tend to feel most comfortable at the edge of the forest, where open and sheltered conditions meet. When you go out into the wild, it is very easy to encounter naturally growing rosehip bushes because, within their own ecological system, they can develop, adapt and thrive without human intervention. The surrounding community of plants, insects and birds creates a natural balance that keeps pest pressure in check. Species such as tits, warblers and even the wryneck—a bird closely linked to semi-open forest margins—form part of this equilibrium and contribute to regulating insect populations.
Artificial - but natural
By creating habitat for birds – in addition to the fact that the natural twig-branch structure of the rosehip bush already forms an excellent and secure nesting environment – we also support their presence by placing out dedicated nesting boxes and waterers across the plantation. These additional structures complement the protective architecture of the rosehip shrubs, giving birds more opportunities to settle, breed and stay active throughout the season. At present, there are already more than 400 nesting boxes installed on the plantation, and over 80% of them are consistently inhabited and used by birds, demonstrating how strongly they respond to suitable habitat creation. Species ranging from common tits to more specialised birds such as the wryneck often take advantage of these resources when the ecological conditions are favourable.
Based on scientifically rigorous surveys, it can be stated that in a 1-hectare area with this density of nesting boxes, tits alone are capable of transporting approximately 39 kg of insects, worms and various larval stages into their nests over a season. This impressive amount reflects their extremely high feeding activity during breeding, when they continuously hunt for soft-bodied prey. When this estimate is scaled up to our full 150 hectares, it becomes clear that these small but highly efficient insectivorous birds can collectively remove more than 4 tons of insects from the area.
A wryneck family moved in
When we first discovered that a wryneck family had chosen one of the 400 nesting boxes we installed to foster genuine biodiversity within our rosehip plantation, it genuinely took our breath away. What began as an ecological initiative—to create a landscape where birds and other wildlife could thrive—suddenly turned into a moment of real significance. Seeing such a rare and sensitive species confidently settling in the environment we built was a profound confirmation that our efforts to restore natural balance were paying off. It reminded us that when agriculture respects the surrounding ecosystem, even elusive birds like the wryneck feel safe enough to raise their young.
Over the years, we have observed an increasingly colourful and diverse bird population establishing itself throughout our plantation. Different species appear at different times of the season, each adding to the ecological richness that supports overall plant health. This year, for the first time, we managed to photograph an entire wryneck family inside one of the nesting boxes. Their presence is not only emotionally rewarding but also biologically meaningful, as the wryneck is considered a rare and highly protected species in many regions. The nest we documented contained seven eggs alongside the attentive mother, representing a notional conservation value of approximately 1000 EUR. This number highlights how precious and vulnerable these birds are—and how remarkable it is that they have chosen our environment for breeding.
