Birdhouses – to help preserve Birdhouses – to help preserve the natural balance in our the natural balance in our

forests forests

Helena Oštrić, prof.Helena Oštrić, prof.

Mirjana Matić, prof.Mirjana Matić, prof.

Interest for birdsInterest for birds Birds are among the Birds are among the

most studied of all most studied of all animal groupsanimal groups

A white dove is a symbol A white dove is a symbol of PEACEof PEACE

The importance of birds in natureThe importance of birds in nature

A natural and non-toxic A natural and non-toxic way to kill most plant way to kill most plant pests. pests.

They participate in They participate in pollination and dispersal pollination and dispersal of plants.of plants.

They have their place in They have their place in the food chain of forests the food chain of forests and other ecosystems, and other ecosystems, from primary consumers from primary consumers to predators.to predators.

Hole-nesting birds are Hole-nesting birds are very important for very important for normal functioning of normal functioning of the forest ecosystems. the forest ecosystems.

These are the species These are the species

that mainly feed on that mainly feed on larvae and adult insects larvae and adult insects (woodpeckers, titmice) (woodpeckers, titmice) or rodents (owls) and or rodents (owls) and play an important role play an important role in controlling the in controlling the number of species that number of species that are considered pests in are considered pests in the forest.the forest.

Disappearance of species and reduction Disappearance of species and reduction in the number of bird speciesin the number of bird species

Human activities have allowed a rapid Human activities have allowed a rapid expansion of natural habitat for some species, expansion of natural habitat for some species, but also a rapid reduction for others so some but also a rapid reduction for others so some species have been brought to the brink of species have been brought to the brink of extinction. extinction.

Many bird populations are reduced worldwide, Many bird populations are reduced worldwide, with about 1,200 species in danger to become with about 1,200 species in danger to become extinct in the next hundred years.extinct in the next hundred years.

The causes:The causes:

disappearance of disappearance of habitats because of habitats because of many reasons many reasons (excessive (excessive landscaping, landscaping, concreting over, concreting over, artificial lighting) artificial lighting)

danger from predators danger from predators that are artificially that are artificially introduced from introduced from remote areasremote areas

overhunting overhunting accidentally getting accidentally getting

hit by aircrafts hit by aircrafts getting caught in getting caught in

long fishing ropes long fishing ropes oil slicksoil slicks pollution of habitats pollution of habitats use of pesticidesuse of pesticides

•Misuse of traps (baketine) that are allowed Misuse of traps (baketine) that are allowed

for certain types of songbirdsfor certain types of songbirds Songbirds of Marjan:Songbirds of Marjan:- goldfinch goldfinch - greenfinchgreenfinch- canary canary - robin robin - little nightingale little nightingale

•The killing of birds of prey and destruction of their nests;The killing of birds of prey and destruction of their nests; On Marjan there are: buzzard, peregrine falcon and hawkOn Marjan there are: buzzard, peregrine falcon and hawk

Still considered "pests" so Still considered "pests" so they are the victims of they are the victims of hunting and poachinghunting and poaching

Their available prey is being Their available prey is being reduced reduced

Therefore – birdhouses !Therefore – birdhouses !

Birdhouses can Birdhouses can significantly help significantly help increase the number of increase the number of bird species as well as bird species as well as protect individual protect individual members of the members of the speciesspecies

To enable the natural balance of the food chain To enable the natural balance of the food chain up to the birds of preyup to the birds of prey

Disappearance of habitats;Disappearance of habitats; The extinction of some plant The extinction of some plant

species of which nests are species of which nests are being builtbeing built

The lack of trees with holesThe lack of trees with holes

And because of:And because of:- ,,asphalting”,,asphalting”- intensive landscaping of parks, intensive landscaping of parks,

orchards, forests and other orchards, forests and other habitats habitats

- the use of insecticides and the use of insecticides and pesticides that is disastrous to pesticides that is disastrous to some wild plantssome wild plants

Some birds build their Some birds build their nests using:nests using:- the wool of sheepthe wool of sheep-the hair of other the hair of other domestic animals domestic animals whose number is whose number is decreasing in the decreasing in the villages and on family villages and on family farms nowadays farms nowadays

In these conditions, the birdhouse takes In these conditions, the birdhouse takes

the role of - the role of - the nestthe nest The entrance to the birdhouse:The entrance to the birdhouse: must be of a specific size so must be of a specific size so

that only birds and no predators that only birds and no predators can entercan enter

must be in a protected part of must be in a protected part of the tree, at a certain height, the tree, at a certain height, depending on the species of depending on the species of bird, because different species bird, because different species nest at different heights nest at different heights

Hole-nesting birds of forest MarjanHole-nesting birds of forest Marjan

These are booth :These are booth :

1.1. Blue tit Blue tit

2. Great tit2. Great tit

The woodpeckerThe woodpecker

Black WoodpeckerBlack Woodpecker

HoopoeHoopoe

Great woodpecker – the chief maker of Great woodpecker – the chief maker of holes in the forest Marjanholes in the forest Marjan

A master in making holes A master in making holes in the trees is the in the trees is the woodpecker which is a woodpecker which is a very important bird in the very important bird in the forest. It only uses the hole forest. It only uses the hole once and when the chicks once and when the chicks grow up it never returns to grow up it never returns to the same hole. Then the the same hole. Then the hole is used by other hole is used by other animals like birds, animals like birds, squirrels, bats, and various squirrels, bats, and various insects. insects.

And so, if you live in a house with a yard or And so, if you live in a house with a yard or

gardengarden Many homeowners put Many homeowners put

birdhouses in their yard birdhouses in their yard to attract birds of to attract birds of different species. different species.

For those who love For those who love flowers and other plants flowers and other plants birds are very good birds are very good friends because they friends because they help them to get rid of help them to get rid of most plant pests in a most plant pests in a natural and non-toxic natural and non-toxic way. way.

So they provide food for So they provide food for them during the winter, them during the winter, and in return they can and in return they can enjoy in the chirping, enjoy in the chirping, singing and clapping of singing and clapping of wings of their little wings of their little neighbors. neighbors.

The pupils of environmental section of the The pupils of environmental section of the school cooperative participated in the school cooperative participated in the

research on this topic.research on this topic.

Visiting the forest "Marjan"Visiting the forest "Marjan"

All these birdhouses that you have seen were All these birdhouses that you have seen were made by pupils of the environmental section made by pupils of the environmental section of the school cooperative with a little help of the school cooperative with a little help

from their parents.from their parents.

and the members of the technical group – and the members of the technical group – led by Ivan Bagatled by Ivan Bagat

The birdhouses were decorated by the The birdhouses were decorated by the members of the art section – led bymembers of the art section – led by M. M.

Matić i Nevenka Mistrić Gulin Matić i Nevenka Mistrić Gulin

The blending of birdhouses and natureThe blending of birdhouses and nature

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention