These Multipurpose Roof Tiles Also Provide A House For Birds
Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, according to the UN. As a result, animals are forced to find ways to live in tight urban spaces and it’s not always easy. And birds are no exception.
It turns out, a creative design was key to solving a decline in urban bird populations. It all started when the Dutch product design agency Klaas Kuiken came up with the idea to design a roof tile that doubles as a bird house. The idea was snatched by Hitit Terra, a Turkish terracotta manufacturer based in the town of Çorum, which then started producing the bird nest tiles for the local communities. Mahmoud Basic, the regional director for the national parks, told a local news website that the tiles were to be produced and distributed to the people free of charge. Let’s take a look at this creative design solution below.
The Turkish company Hitit Terra is now manufacturing these roof tiles that double as bird shelters
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
The Hitit Terra founders, Cengiz Başaranhıncal and Ali Arslan, said that the idea to produce bird nest tiles came after they saw the design on social media. Ali explained that the price of the tile online came out at around $70, which, in his opinion, was too high and they started making their own product for a local market.
Hitit Terra’s bird nest tiles were tested by Afyon Nature Conservation and the 5th Regional Directorate of National Parks and re-designed according to the demand. They now produce 4-5 different tile designs that accommodate different bird species.
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
In fact, bird houses are rooted in Turkish history. Back in the times of the Ottoman Empire, people would build elaborate miniature palaces for the birds. Not only did they give animals shelter, they were also believed to grant good deeds to whoever built them. Check out this fascinating architecture in our previous article right here.
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
Image credits: hititterra
The tradition originated in the Ottoman Empire, where people created elaborate mini architectural mansions for birds
Image credits: canercangul
Image credits: canercangul
Image credits: canercangul
But many felt quite critical about the idea
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Nice idea, but that hole is too big compared to the space inside. So either small birds dont use it cause theyre too vulnerable and big birds dont use it cause they dont have enough room inside. Someone also mentioned the stick, and that is also a valid point. I have to say they look cute though, would absolutely use one if they tweaked it a bit.
hobbitly Great point. This roof tile is more like plate for cats or raptors.
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No Lucas, it's different, your wooden bird houses are in garden, not on a roof. Birds use houses for nesting, and they love trees.
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These are beautiful- I love the ones that are painted with traditional designs. (The Ottoman bird mansions are really amazing! I never knew that was a thing until now.)
We do not need more birdhouses - we need to stop destroying wildlife habitats but above all, we need to use much less insecticides! As a grim warning to humanity, several studies report a substantial decline in insect populations. Most birds eat insects.
Great for cooking eggs and birds alive. I wonder if the author is aware how hot the roof can be, especially in the summer.
Maybe someone already mentioned this in these comments (haven't read them all), but apparently the temperature in these nests skyrockets end "cooks" the eggs/birds... So only good for very temperate climates...
Nice idea, but temperature +35-40 Celsius in the summertime, the roof can be +70-80 °C hot or too cold in winter. I think, a wood birdhouse better on a tree.
they use to live under roof tile near the gutter where water run then the house was sold and sadly land lord found out and closed the whole , they have been there many years and those who cleaned once a year just let them be there. I wish more would help and understand the birds they actually can use the tiles the hole on roof just a little smaller some could be for big birds some for smaller why not only a hater say they s**t every where lip mouthing , so does humans make s**t everywhere and take their living places in nature and mostly never give it back again and blame them at the same time people who don't care about others but them self - it will rain and we water , why hate birds this much, that you don't want them to have a nice life too, are you the one who want to brag about how much you hatede the birds one your death bed after your short life on earth you can brag about how much they were in your way for living the your own life . They like nest south i think
These are very beautiful. But they would be more for ornamental uses. Other than being too hot, a bird house needs to have a way to clean it out every spring before nesting starts. You wouldn't want to live in a dirty house, would you? That is one reason birdhouses are generally made of wood. It will have a sliding panel or one of the roof pieces or the floor will be movable.
It's great that people do something positive for wildlife; however, wouldn't it be better for birds and people alike to plant trees in the residential areas? Birds would definitely prefer trees to these roof dwellings.
And there's a perfect living environment in the roof space for the rats and mice!
Did you read the bit about massive wildlife decline? This affects all of us in more detrimental ways than bird poo on the roof.
Load More Replies... Nice idea, but that hole is too big compared to the space inside. So either small birds dont use it cause theyre too vulnerable and big birds dont use it cause they dont have enough room inside. Someone also mentioned the stick, and that is also a valid point. I have to say they look cute though, would absolutely use one if they tweaked it a bit.
hobbitly Great point. This roof tile is more like plate for cats or raptors.
Load More Replies... No Lucas, it's different, your wooden bird houses are in garden, not on a roof. Birds use houses for nesting, and they love trees.
Load More Replies... These are beautiful- I love the ones that are painted with traditional designs. (The Ottoman bird mansions are really amazing! I never knew that was a thing until now.)
We do not need more birdhouses - we need to stop destroying wildlife habitats but above all, we need to use much less insecticides! As a grim warning to humanity, several studies report a substantial decline in insect populations. Most birds eat insects.
Great for cooking eggs and birds alive. I wonder if the author is aware how hot the roof can be, especially in the summer.
Maybe someone already mentioned this in these comments (haven't read them all), but apparently the temperature in these nests skyrockets end "cooks" the eggs/birds... So only good for very temperate climates...
Nice idea, but temperature +35-40 Celsius in the summertime, the roof can be +70-80 °C hot or too cold in winter. I think, a wood birdhouse better on a tree.
they use to live under roof tile near the gutter where water run then the house was sold and sadly land lord found out and closed the whole , they have been there many years and those who cleaned once a year just let them be there. I wish more would help and understand the birds they actually can use the tiles the hole on roof just a little smaller some could be for big birds some for smaller why not only a hater say they s**t every where lip mouthing , so does humans make s**t everywhere and take their living places in nature and mostly never give it back again and blame them at the same time people who don't care about others but them self - it will rain and we water , why hate birds this much, that you don't want them to have a nice life too, are you the one who want to brag about how much you hatede the birds one your death bed after your short life on earth you can brag about how much they were in your way for living the your own life . They like nest south i think
These are very beautiful. But they would be more for ornamental uses. Other than being too hot, a bird house needs to have a way to clean it out every spring before nesting starts. You wouldn't want to live in a dirty house, would you? That is one reason birdhouses are generally made of wood. It will have a sliding panel or one of the roof pieces or the floor will be movable.
It's great that people do something positive for wildlife; however, wouldn't it be better for birds and people alike to plant trees in the residential areas? Birds would definitely prefer trees to these roof dwellings.
And there's a perfect living environment in the roof space for the rats and mice!
Did you read the bit about massive wildlife decline? This affects all of us in more detrimental ways than bird poo on the roof.
Load More Replies...
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