In the construction sector, politics and nature organizations, all noses actually stood in the same direction: with new construction and renovations it had to be obliged to brush hollow tiles into outside walls, so that birds are helped with nesting spots. All parties found a small effort with large yield. At the beginning of this year, the neststone rule would enter.
And then BBB minister Mona Keijzer of public housing and spatial planning decided to put a stop to ‘bird-inclusive building’. In order to quickly realize homes, she scraped ‘obstructive rules and procedures’. While “birds also suffer from a housing shortage,” says Timo Roeke, senior adviser protection of Bird Protection Netherlands.
That birds can use help is apparent every year at the national garden bird count. “The population of house sparrows has decreased by 65 percent,” says Roeke. “There are even several neighborhoods in Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam where the house sparrow simply no longer occurs.” Around dawn, less and less chirping, chattering and singing birds sound. That has to do with the fossilization of the Netherlands and with the lack of nesting space. The cracks and holes that houses used to have were bad for the insulation and the energy label, but good as nesting areas.
Not only nature organizations are shocked by scraping the rule. The Building Industry Associations Bouwend Nederland, WoonbouwersNL and Neprom have Keijzer in one letter Let them know that they support her aim “to prevent unnecessary regulations,” but not this rule.
At the initiative of Habtamu de Hoop (GroenLinks-PvdA), the House of Representatives has adopted a motion to ensure that the rule nevertheless goes into. It is not yet known whether Keijzer will result in this. Roeke hopes, especially for species that breed in caves, “such as the house sparrow and swift”.
Until that time, birds were well helped with the classic nest box on the outside walls. Even now, in these rainy winter months, Roeke says. “It is true that many birds return from Africa in the spring, but there are also species that are already looking for a place.”
A number of conditions apply to a good nesting place.
1It matters how and where you hang a nest box
“Don’t hang the house with the opening on the West,” says Roeke, “then there is a good chance that the rain will blow inside.” It is also important that it is not too low to the ground, “otherwise the birds are vulnerable to cats.” House cats and wild cats are estimated to kill around 20 million birds a year.
2A nest box must be watertight and be able to open it to clean it
A stick in front of the entrance is not necessary, that can give predators a hand.
3Different bird species have different wishes
Most birds think a front door is fine, tree stickers want an entrance on the side. Many birds want nice and detached, while sparrows want to live close together, in a bird row house or a bird flat. You can enjoy a bush brother with a nest box in a bush.
4Bird Protection Netherlands recommends that you only make nest boxes of wood
But for those who want something else there are online houses of various materials for sale. The color doesn’t really matter, says Roeke. “Only the swallow specifically wants a nest on a white surface.” The other birds have adapted. “As long as the conditions for safety are correct, any color and any print can.”
There is a birdhouse in the shape of the Mondriaan house. A canal house. There is a birdhouse with the flag of Friesland. There are bird villas. On the Vitra Campus in Switzerland an exhibition of bird houses was designed by forty artists from different countries until February.
As long as the nest stones are not yet mandatory, birds will have to do it with nest boxes. And if a birdhouse is not inhabited by a blue tit but by a family wasps, that is actually good news, says Roeke. “It’s all nature – actually everyone has a housing shortage.”