RapportFondation_2026_V03 Pages LIGHT EN - Flipbook - Page 41
2025 REPORT
BELGIUM
© Thomas Jean
Nests to protect birds in our cities
AMOUNT COMMITED TO DATE: € 100.757
2019 > PRESENT
Since 2019, CAP48 and the Pairi Daiza Foundation, in partnership with Ferme Nos Pilifs and Moineaux et
Biodiversité, have been supporting projects dedicated to the protection of urban birds.
In 2019, purpose-built nesting structures containing 69 compartments for Sand martins were installed along the
Brussels Canal. These artificial nesting sites replicate the birds’ natural habitats in sandy riverbanks. Inspired by a
successful initiative in the United Kingdom, the project led to a remarkable milestone: in 2021, the first breeding
pair in 40 years was recorded in Brussels. In 2022, a bird observation point and a “drink station” were created at
Ferme Nos Pilifs, improving both viewing opportunities and access to water for birds. The site was further enriched
with educational signage to raise public awareness of urban biodiversity. In 2023 and 2024, 31 House sparrow
poles, each fitted with nesting boxes, were installed across several municipalities in Brussels. These installations
respond to the sharp decline of the House sparrow, largely caused by the loss of natural nesting cavities in urban
environments. Since the launch of the project, the number of sparrow poles has reached the symbolic milestone
of 50 across the Brussels Region in 2025.
Finally, a new partner, L’Atelier, joined the project in 2025, extending its reach to the Namur region and broadening
its geographical scope.
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