Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The City of Antwerp and Bird Protection Flanders have installed benches at Het Steen, encouraging visitors to spot and enjoy the seasonal flight of swifts.
Additionally, there is an information board.
“We have been able to transform 25 openings in the facade into suitable nesting places”,
says Johan Kempeneers of Apus-team Antwerp, which is responsible for the protection of the swifts.
The quick returns to Antwerp, Belgium, each spring.
“Together with the city, we have set up a project to revive the swift population,”
says Angés Wené, director of Bird Protection Flanders.
One of the rarest and most protected bird species is the swift.
“From the moment they leave the nest, they keep flying. They sleep, eat and mate in the air,”
Kempeneers explains. Their legs are not suited to stay perched somewhere.
“They can’t get to the ground for food or nesting material, but they can’t sit on trees either, so they can’t build a nest,”
he continues.
“This year in particular is an extra difficult season for them. There are a lot of pesticides in the air, which means there are fewer insects.”
Swifts are also losing valuable nesting places in buildings due to increasingly strict building and insulation standards.
Since 2018, the City of Antwerp, Apus team Antwerp, and Bird Protection Flanders have increased nest-building options. However, as a citizen, you may also assist the birds.
“We also install nest boxes in people’s homes,”
says Wené.
“In the meantime, we have already distributed 150 nest boxes to enthusiastic residents.”
“The collaboration with Bird Protection Flanders and Antwerp is going incredibly well,”
says Kempeneers.
“We are busy creating new nests, such as at the Vleeshuis.”
“We will definitely continue with this valuable project,”
Wené emphasizes.
Comments
5 responses to “Antwerp Introduces Swift-Watching Benches at Het Steen”
So now we have benches for birdwatching in Antwerp? Brilliant! Next, they’ll install gourmet cafes for the pigeons to enjoy a latte while we sip our overpriced beers. 🍻🕊️
Finally, a place to sit while we stare at birds doing their thing—because who doesn’t want to spend their afternoon pretending to be a nature documentary narrator? 😂🦅
So, we’ve built benches for bird-watching now, eh? Next, let’s install cafés for the pigeons – they deserve a latte too, don’t they? 🐦☕️
Honestly, nothing says “progressive city planning” like sitting on a bench to watch birds that can’t even be bothered to land—what’s next, a viewing deck for flying fish? 🐦💨
Oh, lovely! Now we can sit and watch birds flying about like they’re on some fancy air show. Just what every busy businessman needs, right? 🐦💼
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