Attracting Birds and Bats

What is it? This initiative involves restoring the predator-prey balance in our urban environment by actively encouraging natural pest controllers, specifically insect-eating birds and bats. It shifts the city's focus from relying solely on artificial chemical sprays to utilizing biological solutions—essentially "hiring" nature to manage pest populations for us.

Why it matters for Yerevan. In our city, trees are living in constant stress, making them highly vulnerable to infestation. Chemical spraying is often ineffective due to short vulnerability windows and can harm the ecosystem further. Increasing the population of birds and bats ensures our vital shade trees are protected 24/7 by sustainable, living insect traps.

The Standard. We must implement a city-wide strategy based on scientifically proven methods. This requires installing durable nesting boxes, preserving safe habitat trees, and planting diverse flora to support food webs. Insecticides should be used only as a last resort to avoid poisoning these beneficial allies.

Current Status. Currently, Yerevan lacks a dedicated municipal program for biological pest control, leaving the city reliant on difficult-to-time chemical treatments. However, Kanach Yerevan is currently running an approved pilot project to attract Great Tits. We advocate that the city adopts established international protocols to fully restore our urban ecosystem's natural defenses.