Eco-solutions: Kyiv parks and squares enhance urban wildlife with new birdhouses
Illustrative picture
Birdhouses have been strategically installed throughout Kyiv's parks and squares to enhance urban biodiversity and support local wildlife.
Rubryka provides insights into the initiative's purpose and offers guidance on crafting these avian habitats independently.
What is the problem?
In modern cities, especially megacities, there is less and less space for birds: old hollow trees are being cut down, green areas are being reduced, and dense development leaves no opportunities for starlings and other beneficial birds, which are an essential part of the city's ecosystem, to nest.
What is the solution?
Photo: Kyivzelenbud Joint-Stock Company
According to an announcement on the Kyivzelenbud Joint-Stock Company's official Facebook page, Kyiv's landscapers have installed over 200 birdhouses in the city's parks and squares. This initiative aims to support local wildlife and enhance the urban environment.
How does it work?
Photo: Kyivzelenbud Joint-Stock Company
The regular installation of birdhouses in Kyiv's parks and forest areas commenced well before the onset of the full-scale war. Staff from forest and park enterprises, affiliated with the Kyivzelenbud Joint Stock Company, annually replenish city forests with new birdhouses. This ongoing effort addresses the wear and tear caused by weather conditions, as artificial birdhouses typically remain usable for 3-4 years. Regular updates are necessary to encourage birds to continue inhabiting these spaces.
This year, the company's employees placed more than 200 birdhouses in the capital. They are made of natural wood, without additional decoration that could scare away birds. They are rough on the inside and have a hole with a diameter of 5.5 cm.
Photo: Kyivzelenbud Joint Stock Company
The central locations for arranging birdhouses in Kyiv:
- Holosiivskyi district: Maksym Rylskyi park.
- Darnytskyi district: Partisan Glory park.
- Desnyanskyi district: a park with water features along Roman Shukhevych Avenue, Kyoto Park, and DShK Park.
- Dniprovskyi district: Hydropark, Peremoha Park, park along Hetman Polubotko Street, Trukhaniv Island.
- Obolonskyi district: Natalka Park, square on Pryrichna Street, 3-5, square on Oleksandr Arkhypenko Street, 5, square on Zoia Haidai Street, 9/8.
- Pecherskyi district: Navodnytskyi Park, Pecherskyi Landscape Park, Askoldova Mohyla, Eternal Glory Park.
- Podilskyi district: Birch Grove Park, Kristera Hill Park, Kyn-hrust Park, Artists' Alley.
- Sviatoshynskyi district: Sovky Park, International Park, General Potapov Park, Revutskoho square, Yunist Park, park on Oresta Vaskuly Street, square on Verkhovynna Street, 8-10, square between Hetman Kyrylo Rozumovsky Street and Myroslav Popovycha Street.
- Soloiyansky District: Vidradny Park, Orliatko Park, Defenders of Ukraine Park, M. Zerov Park, Yunist Park, Solomiansky Landscape Park, the park near the Tampere Cinema, Suputnyk Park, and the square on Hirnyk Street.
- Shevchenkivsky District: Volodymyrska Hirka Park, Kyrylivskyi Hai Park, Nyvky Park, Syretskyi Park, Ivan Bahriany Park.
Notably, employees of the forest parks under the Kyivzelenbud Joint-Stock Company have recently installed nearly 300 new artificial nests in the capital's forests.
Does this really work?
Photo: Kyivzelenbud Joint-Stock Company
According to the Kyivzelenbud JSC, the most common bird species nesting in hollows include starlings, tits, woodpeckers, lapwings, wagtails, shrikes, and flycatchers. These birds play a crucial role in the ecosystem by actively controlling insect pests that threaten green spaces and aiding in the dispersion of plant seeds.
"Installing birdhouses helps compensate for the lack of natural shelters by creating safe places for nesting. This is not only supporting birds, but also a natural way to control the insect population in cities, as birds actively destroy insect pests (for example, bark beetles, caterpillars, ticks)," Mykola Prychepa, Candidate of Biological Sciences, hydrobiologist-ornithologist, comments.
Reports suggest that a single starling can consume approximately 300 insects daily. Consequently, a family of starlings can significantly control pest populations, making them invaluable allies in maintaining ecological balance.
"Adult starlings bring their children up to 300 servings of food daily. During the nesting season, which is three weeks, a pair of starlings can destroy 6 kg of insects," the ornithologist says.
He adds that hanging birdhouses or hollows in parks is the right decision because there is a lack of rotten trees, and therefore hollows and natural openings where birds could dig out niches for nests.
According to the scientist, artificial birdhouses should prove themselves well in city parks, particularly in Ivan Bahriany Park and Natalka Park, where birds can find food but have problems with housing.
However, in areas like Zhukovy Island or the Horbachykha tract, which are rich in floodplain forest environments, attracting species such as tits, starlings, and flycatchers with birdhouses is unnecessary. These birds naturally find their niches in these habitats. Moreover, these areas host numerous woodpeckers, naturally creating nesting sites that other birds can utilize.
Even more useful solutions!
How to make a birdhouse?
Residents of high-rise buildings are encouraged to make and install birdhouses in their yards. This initiative supports local bird populations and provides an excellent opportunity to involve children in an engaging and educational activity. By crafting birdhouses, youngsters can learn about the habits of birds and the significance of preserving nature. Additionally, this project offers families a chance to spend quality time together while fostering a sense of responsibility in children and teaching them to value the environment.
When constructing birdhouses or hollows, convenience and simplicity should be prioritized, advises Mykola Prychepa. Key considerations include:
- Material selection: Choose materials that allow the birdhouse to blend seamlessly with its environment. Ideal woods include willow, linden, poplar, pine, and birch.
- Avoid painting: Paint can be toxic to birds, and bright colors reduce the natural camouflage effect.
- Interior surface: Ensure the inner surface is rough, as this aids chicks in climbing from the bottom to the top.
Unique platforms can be made in front of the hole for the convenience of certain species. The birds will use them before flying into the nest, and the young ones will use them as a springboard for acceleration during their first training flights.
And so that the new house is genuinely cozy and safe for the birds, it is installed by generally accepted standards:
- The birdhouse is placed at a height of at least 4 meters, as far as possible from thick branches so that cats or squirrels cannot reach the nest.
- The opening is directed to the east or southeast. This way, the birds will be able to receive morning sunlight but will avoid overheating in the heat.
- To shield against rain, it is recommended that the birdhouse be positioned with a slight forward tilt of 5-10°. This angle helps prevent water ingress, keeping the interior dry and safe for its avian inhabitants.
- To minimize damage to trees, avoid using nails to attach birdhouses. Instead, consider using special wires to secure the birdhouse or a hollow around the tree. This method is less harmful to the tree.
For reference:
Notably, the Ministry of Environment has established a working group tasked with developing a concept for a bird rehabilitation shelter in Mezhyhiria. This initiative stems from the recognized need to support the rehabilitation and conservation of local bird populations. Rubryka has explored the reasons behind this need and the potential outcomes and decisions anticipated from the working group's efforts.
