9 nest boxes for birds of prey that change the biodiversity of Tarragona

Tarragona already has a plan to drive away the pigeons and starlings that keep multiplying. And it doesn't do it with gunshots, but with nest boxes for birds of prey that help maintain the natural balance.

The project is being implemented in different parts of the city and its peri-urban surroundings, where diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey can nest and control the excessive urban wildlife.

How and where the nest boxes are placed

Strategic locations to ensure success

In total, there are already 9 nest boxes scattered throughout Tarragona. The choice of locations is not random: areas with favorable ecosystems for hunting and breeding are sought, tall buildings for falcons and kestrels, and hard-to-access areas to avoid disturbances or theft.

Materials and resistance to the city's onslaughts

The nest boxes are made of phenolic board, prepared to withstand harsh weather, including strong winds and possible vandalism.

This ensures that birds of prey have a safe refuge to nest and raise their young without the city making their lives impossible.

Who are the protagonists of this strategy

Peregrine falcons and kestrels: endangered and indispensable birds

These birds of prey have been making their way in Tarragona for a decade, especially during the winter. But nesting is not easy, which is why nest boxes are key to promoting their stable presence.

Owls and barn owls: the nocturnal ones that also make a difference

The owls, also protected, have been settling in parks and riparian areas like the Francolí river over the past ten years. The boxes for them are fixed to trees with metal anchors that protect them from the wind.

Maintenance and monitoring to ensure survival

Periodic control of the state of the boxes

Visits to inspect and clean the boxes are carried out at different frequencies: annually for diurnal birds of prey and monthly for owl boxes.

This prevents deterioration or the boxes becoming traps for the birds themselves.

A project to balance nature in the city

The initiative seeks for birds of prey to be one more element in the urban food chain, fighting the overpopulation of pigeons, starlings, and other mammals that cause problems in human environments.

But above all, it offers the city a richer biodiversity and an ecosystem with more common sense.

If you look closely, this city you like so much is also an ecosystem with its wars and alliances, and now Tarragona has put up nest boxes for the birds of prey to make their own war.