HIRONBEC — Since 1981 A new generation. The same passion for wildlife.
And a legacy that continues to bear fruit.

Research and Development Understanding nest box microclimate to design them better

Observe. Measure. Compare. Improve.

At Hironbec, we believe that a nest box should not only protect birds from predators and bad weather. It should also provide an interior environment that is as stable and comfortable as possible.

In the summer of 2026, Hironbec undertook a measurement campaign in order to better understand the thermal behavior of different nest box prototypes exposed to real-world conditions.

Temperature and relative humidity sensors recorded conditions at regular 60-minute intervals, making it possible to compare the variations observed inside the compartments with outdoor conditions.

First campaign — Summer 2026

This first phase revealed a particularly important phenomenon: the temperature inside a nest box can momentarily differ significantly from the outdoor temperature.

What we have learned

These first results indicate that the material is only part of the equation.

Solar exposure, the position of the compartment, air circulation, roof design and the orientation of the nest box can also strongly influence its microclimate.

This first campaign therefore does not seek to declare one material “better” than another. Since the sensors were not located at exactly the same level in the two prototypes, the effect of the material and that of the position cannot yet be completely separated.

That observation is precisely what allowed us to improve our experimental protocol.

Measure → understand → improve

The next generations of Hironbec prototypes will make it possible to study, among other things:

• Roof protection against solar radiation
• Natural ventilation
• Double walls
• Different materials and insulation
• Orientation
• The position of the compartments
• Interior humidity
• The differences between outdoor and indoor temperature

Future trials will use sensors placed at the same height and in the same location in each compartment, together with an outdoor reference sensor. On particularly sunny days, the recording frequency may be increased in order to better observe thermal peaks. This is precisely the methodological development planned following Phase 1.

An evolving approach

Our objective is not simply to build a nest box. We want to measure what happens inside it.

Each generation of prototypes can therefore be compared with the previous one. Solutions that provide a measurable advantage can be kept; those that do not can be modified or abandoned.

Over the seasons, this approach will allow Hironbec to build a database of environmental data gathered under real-world conditions in Quebec.

Data before claims

Hironbec intends to publish the significant results of its trials progressively, including when those results call an initial hypothesis into question.

A first experiment is not definitive proof. It is a starting point.

Our approach is therefore based on a simple principle:

Observe. Measure. Compare. Improve.