The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a pioneering summer-protection drive for urban birdlife by installing 150 artificial nests on trees in the Old Town area. This initiative aims to help avian species cope with extreme heat and the shrinking availability of natural shelter.
Pilot Project Around Lingaraj Temple
Officials confirmed that the pilot project has commenced around the Lingaraj Temple area in Old Town. Trees that attract birds are being fitted with nests made from natural coconut coir, designed to provide a cooler and safer refuge. Alongside the nests, the civic body has also placed water pots on the same trees.
The twin arrangement of shelter and hydration is intended to improve survival conditions for birds in densely populated urban pockets where natural nesting spaces are under pressure. Each tree has at least 15 nests and an equal number of water pots, bringing the total to 150 nests installed so far, according to BMC assistant commissioner Lokanath Bej.
Innovative Use of Waste Materials
This initiative stands out for combining wildlife care with sustainable waste reuse. The nests are produced at a waste-to-wealth centre, where used coconuts collected by sanitation workers are processed. The extracted coir is then used to manufacture the bird shelters. Hydraulic ladders are employed to install the nests and water pots high on selected trees, ensuring safer placement and better accessibility for birds.
The project is currently in its trial phase around the temple precinct. Officials are closely monitoring the response. If the nests prove effective and the feedback is encouraging, the model could be expanded to other parts of the city, especially in areas with significant bird presence.
By creating shaded nesting spaces and ensuring water availability, the BMC has introduced a simple but meaningful measure to support urban birds, a senior official remarked.
