Managing microclimates for southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa

Researchers from the University of Cape Town developed insulated nest boxes to protect southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert from extreme heat. The project found that insulated boxes significantly reduced nest temperatures, leading to higher fledging rates and healthier nestlings and females compared to uninsulated boxes.

• Rising regional temperatures in the Kuruman River Reserve have caused a sharp decline in the nesting success of southern yellow-billed hornbills, dropping from 58% to 17% between 2008 and 2019. Nesting success is found to fall below 50% when air temperatures during the nesting period exceed 95°F.
• The implementation of insulated nest boxes made from pinewood with plywood shading panels reduced nest temperatures by approximately 5.4°F. This resulted in a 68% fledging rate for nesting attempts in insulated boxes, whereas 80% of nests in uninsulated boxes failed completely.
• Insulated boxes significantly improved the physical health of both offspring and parents; chicks in insulated boxes were 55% heavier than those in uninsulated boxes. Additionally, females in insulated boxes lost significantly less weight (0.36 ounces) by the time nestlings were seven days old compared to females in uninsulated boxes (1.76 ounces).

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Managing microclimates for southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/managing-microclimates-for-southern-yellow-billed-hornbills-in-the-kalahari-desert-south-africa/

Chicago

WWF International. Managing microclimates for southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/managing-microclimates-for-southern-yellow-billed-hornbills-in-the-kalahari-desert-south-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Managing microclimates for southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/managing-microclimates-for-southern-yellow-billed-hornbills-in-the-kalahari-desert-south-africa/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndmanaging, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Managing microclimates for southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/wildlife/wildlife-adaptation-innovation-fund/managing-microclimates-for-southern-yellow-billed-hornbills-in-the-kalahari-desert-south-africa/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }