| 摘要 |
A nesting structure for earth-burrowing birds is disclosed which provides spaces above ground for multiple pairs of these colonial underground nesting birds to build their nests in. The structure provides an extensive upright face of earthen color and texture, suggestive of the natural exposed vertical riverbanks and similar upright earth forms which attract these birds. Openings in the upright face allow birds to pass through ready-made protective artificial nesting tunnels, leading back from the front face, into enlarged artificial nesting chambers at the rear of the nesting structure. These individual nesting chambers, arranged in orderly fashion, are accessible through resealable doors. This access permits convenient, effortless, non-disruptive inspection, management and research of the nestings of those birds whose nests have been, until now, inaccessibly and randomly dug underground. The nesting structure, being of durable man-made materials, either one of wood, metal, plastic and cured masonry, is not subject to the erosion or collapse expected in natural earthen nesting banks. The structure protects nesting cavities and contents from the dangers of saturating rain and certain burrowing predators which threaten natural earthen nests. The structure, being of standard building materials, is economical to build, lightweight, able to be assembled in the field, and adaptable to different mountings and settings, as well as to sensitive landscapes. As a freestanding structure specifically designated for nesting birds, the nesting structure is not subject to destruction through massive erosion, human development, earth-moving operations or flooding, as natural nesting sites are. Various embodiments allow birds to dig, or partially dig, their own tunnels and/or nesting chambers, while still directing this digging to the rear of the structure for convenient human access.
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