It’s a miracle: “Only completed a few months ago and terns are already breeding there, unprecedented!”, says ecologist Ton Denters as he scours the pontoons from the jetty with binoculars. Or, in Ton’s own words: ‘the bird boulevard’. They have only been there since May this year and it is already a huge success.
NNH common terns in the wood harbors – NH News
Grebes, coots and even common terns have immediately taken them into use, as we see when we go out with Ton for Natural North Holland. “The municipality of Amsterdam and the Port Authority want to do more for nature in new construction. And that is bearing fruit!”
Until a few years ago, the Amsterdam Houthavens were a somewhat lost part of the city. The industry slowly retreated, but refurbishment was delayed. It was wild and empty. But now a whole new part of the city has emerged on man-made islands where, thanks to ecologists like Tond Denters, people are striving for more nature-inclusive construction. “So we try to give nature a place with the layout of quays and canals and when building blocks of houses.”
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The ‘bird boulevard’ offers various birds the chance to find a nesting place. And they have already started, even before the floating garden rafts have become overgrown. “Several pairs of grebes and coots breed and six pairs of terns are now breeding on the pontoons and the balcony.” Protection has been thought of to prevent seagulls and herons from eating the hatched terns. “The young terns can hide in the stone sewer pipes that lie there, out of reach of hungry beaks.”
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Plants have also been considered in the design of the renovated Houthavens. “Many plants will find their own place if we give them the chance, but sometimes they could use an extra push. We did that when we built this green quay.” Lying on our stomachs we look over the edge. “Behind these stones is a layer that raises the water from the moat. The stones are cemented together with an old-fashioned mortar. Between some stones, a cavity has been made where we have placed plants that would have come here without our help , but years later. Now it immediately looks beautiful.”