The Nesting Boxes of the Canal

The “Les Nichoirs du Canal” operation is part of the biodiversity preservation initiative led by the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe. Launched in March 2022 in Compiégnois, it will be extended in 2025 to Noyonnais, Somme, Pas-de-Calais and the Nord.

Objective: to make residents' gardens and school yards places of reception and reproduction of birds living near the Canal construction sites.

Nesting boxes as alternative habitats

Construction work on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal sometimes requires clearing and deforestation which can impact bird habitats (hedges, thickets, edges, woodlots). To reduce this nuisance as much as possible, the “Les Nichoirs du Canal” operation allows birds to set up their nests in nesting boxes, located in the gardens of the inhabitants of the neighboring municipalities of the future Canal.

More than 600 nesting boxes already installed!

The operation attracted many nature lovers from Compiégnois with more than 600 nesting boxes installed, before the nesting period, in gardens, schools and public spaces. Amateur ornithologists will carry out each year and for 5 years, a follow-up of the species sheltered in their nest box, thus participating directly in the scientific work accompanying the construction of the Canal Seine-Nord Europe.

All the route soon concerned

From January 2025, the Nichoirs du Canal will be deployed in sectors 2, 3 and 4 (from Passel to Aubencheul-au-Bac).

How does the operation work?

This takes place in 4 steps:

The volunteers who live in the municipalities concerned by the operation complete a Registration Form online on the Canal Seine-Nord Europe website.
Un "birdhouse" kit including a nesting box, a guide to good practices and a bird atlas is sent to them.
Nesting boxes must be installed in March, before nesting.
Each year, amateur ornithologists complete the follow-up sheet provided. They participate directly in the scientific work accompanying the construction of the Canal Seine-Nord Europe.

Document

Added September 6, 2022 - Updated September 14, 2022

Operation Birdhouses - Leaflet

2.58 MB

What birds will nest?

Do you know the Song Thrush? The European Goldfinch? The Starling?
These birds are among species found along the route of the Canal Seine-North Europe.

Discover in the photographic atlas of birds these species that surround us, and their specific song!

Document

Added September 14, 2022 - Updated February 29, 2024

Operation Nichoirs - Photographic Atlas

1.33 MB

Throughout the seasons, follow the birds of the Canal on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/lesnichoirsducanal/

they tell us about it

Discover in video their testimonials enthusiastic around the families of blue tits or great tits that they were able to welcome in their nest box in their garden or playground.