A local collaboration with room for nature

During the renovation of our façade at Papegøjevej, swifts were observed nesting in the brickwork. PTI’s service employee Jesper therefore contacted nature guide Bo Tonnesen to get professional advice on how they could best take the birds into account when their existing nesting sites were closed.

It quickly became clear how important it was to create new opportunities for the swifts. The solution was to install nesting boxes – placed exactly where the birds had previously accessed the building.

Swifts are a fascinating bird species known for spending most of their lives in the air. They return to the same nesting sites year after year, which means that even small changes to buildings can have a significant impact on the population. In several places, the species is under pressure, partly because older buildings are renovated and natural nesting sites disappear.

At PTI, it immediately made sense to move forward with the idea. When we moved into Papegøjevej, they quickly saw the potential to develop the area with a focus on biodiversity and the idea of allowing nature to thrive. Since the beginning, they have worked to make the site more attractive to nature, and the nesting box project became a natural next step.

Instead of simply buying ready-made bird boxes, Jesper had another idea: ‘Could we collaborate with someone locally to build them?’

This is where Lærkely – a residential facility with creative and practical workshops – became an important part of the project. They were very interested in the task, and bird boxes are already something they work with. As a result, the project became not only a nature initiative, but also a local collaboration with social value.

Together with the nature guides, we also began looking at which other species could benefit from the area around PTI. The project quickly developed into a broader initiative with nesting and shelter opportunities for a variety of bird species.

Today, work is being done on solutions for swifts, starlings, redstarts, flycatchers, wrens and tits, as well as larger nesting boxes for species such as tawny owls, barn owls and kestrels.

The project is still under development, and we continue to collaborate with the nature guides to make the best possible use of the area, both for nature and for the species living around us.

At the same time, they hope their experience can inspire others to include biodiversity in everyday decisions. You do not need large natural areas to make a difference – even small initiatives can have a meaningful impact.

Source: PTI Europa A/S