A nest box, nestbox, or bird box, is a man-made enclosure for animals to nest in, primarily used by birds and sometimes by bats. These boxes help support specific species in an area.
Nest boxes have been used since Roman times to capture birds for meat, but their use for other purposes began in the mid-18th century, thanks to naturalist August von Berlepsch, who produced them commercially.
Recent attention to nest boxes has increased due to industrialization, urban growth, and habitat loss since the mid-20th century, which have impacted bird breeding.
