Pakistan, identified as the fifth-most climate-vulnerable country globally, faces severe climate challenges, with the capital city of Islamabad experiencing significant temperature increases and extreme weather events. The city's average temperature rose by 5.4°F between 1961 and 1990 and is projected to increase further. This has led to unprecedented rainfall events and extreme temperatures, exacerbated by urbanization and the urban heat island effect. As a result, incidents of fires have increased, particularly affecting Margalla Hills National Park, which is rich in biodiversity.
These climate impacts are significantly affecting birds in the region who rely on holes and cavities for nesting, including woodpeckers, owls, robins, and parakeets. These birds lay their eggs inside cavities or holes that they find in trees, riverbanks, rocks, or human-made structures, offering protection from predators and weather. As these habitats become more degraded by weather and climate events, the survival of hole and cavity nesting birds is jeopardized.
To address these challenges, with support from the Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund, WWF-Pakistan installed 500 artificial nest boxes in 33 sites across urban, suburban, and forested areas in and around Islamabad and Margalla Hills. These nest boxes provide safe nesting spaces for cavity and hole nesting birds by protecting them against habitat destruction caused by climate-induced forest fires and extreme weather events. Designed in accordance with Cornell Lab standards and built with eco-friendly plywood, three types of nest boxes were constructed to accommodate different sized birds. The first type was designed for small birds, with a 2.5-inch entry hole, and the second type was designed for larger birds, with a 3-inch entry hole. The third box type was designed specifically to fit camera traps, so it had the largest dimensions. Out of the 500 nest boxes, there were 400 small boxes, 90 large boxes, and 10 camera trap boxes.
