In the Africa Wood Grow forests we aim for natural pest control. One group of birds would be more than welcome to assist us in protecting the fruittrees and crops from harmful insects; the African hornbill. As a natural enemy of unwanted guests like grasshoppers they potentially play an important role in reducing the loss of fruit and crops.
To create a place where a hornbill (and any other animal) can live there must be food available and a place to live. Food isn’t the problem a place to live is a bigger challenge since hornbills nest in cavaties of old(er) trees. Our newly planted trees aren’t suitable for the hornbills (yet). To provide them a proper place to live the plan came up to place nestboxes in the trees. This was a bit of a challenge since there’s no garden centre that sells nestboxes for hornbills. The research of took the crew of Africa Wood Grow to a zoo to see; how big a nestbox for a hornbill should be and what size the opening of the nestbox was necessary for the birds. With this data a local carpenter was able to make a nestbox suitable for hornbills. Although the nestbox is not occupied yet we are sure it will only be a matter of time before hornbills will enrich our fruitforest and play there role in pest control.
