Birds-of-prey posts

The most efficient mouse controller has wings.

When a kestrel hovers above a field or a buzzard calmly looks out from a tall post, they are not simply resting. They are observing. Their sharp eyes constantly scan the grass for movement. A mouse. A vole. A small rat. Within seconds, a swooping dive follows.

What happens next is one of the oldest forms of natural pest control. For thousands of years, birds of prey have helped keep agricultural areas in balance.

KURBI wants to give them a small helping hand once again.

Why a simple post can make such a difference

Open agricultural areas often contain few natural vantage points. Trees are absent. Hedges are scarce. As a result, birds of prey often have to keep hunting on the wing.

A birds-of-prey post changes that. It provides a safe vantage point from which a kestrel, buzzard or other bird of prey can calmly observe the terrain.

That increases the chance of a successful hunt and helps maintain the natural balance.

Sometimes a simple wooden post is enough to bring life back into a landscape.

Natural pest control

Mice and voles are part of a healthy ecosystem. Yet their numbers can increase sharply at local level.

For farmers, this can cause damage to crops, young plantings and grassland.

Birds of prey are among their most important natural enemies. During the breeding season, a kestrel catches hundreds of small rodents. Buzzards, barn owls and other birds of prey also make an important contribution to the natural balance.

A birds-of-prey post does not solve every problem. But it helps nature do its work again.

Working with nature

Within KURBI, we do not believe that every ecological problem requires a technical solution. Nature itself often already has efficient mechanisms at its disposal. Birds of prey are a fine example of this.

By providing suitable vantage points, we are not supporting artificial control methods. We are creating better conditions for animals that naturally belong here. This fits perfectly with KURBI's philosophy.

Do not intervene where it is not necessary. Do give nature room again.

A project you barely notice...

...yet one whose impact can be great. A birds-of-prey post barely stands out. No colourful flowers. No striking animals. No large structures. And yet it can serve as a fixed observation post for years. It is precisely this simplicity that makes this project so special.

A place with a view

Not every location is suitable. A birds-of-prey post is only installed where it can genuinely offer added value. In assessing this, we consider, among other things: open agricultural landscape; sufficient visibility all around; a safe distance from roads; the presence of suitable hunting grounds; and limited disturbance. Every location is carefully assessed in advance.

More than one bird

Although the kestrel is probably the best-known user, other species can also make use of a vantage post. Depending on the surroundings, the following may, among others, be observed: buzzards; kestrels; sparrowhawks; and other birds of prey.

A small project with a big story

To visitors, a wooden post may seem insignificant. But once you know why it is there, you look at it completely differently. Suddenly you spot the kestrel. You notice how it sits motionless for minutes on end. You understand why it lands exactly there. And you realise that biodiversity can sometimes be surprisingly simple. KURBI wants to help visitors look at the landscape anew. Not only at what is visible. But also at what happens behind the scenes.

What does your business support?

For € 1,000 excluding VAT per year, your business supports:

• the production of a durable birds-of-prey post;

• installation at a suitable location;

Your contribution helps give natural predators a fitting place in the landscape once again.

Why do businesses choose this project?

Because it tells a wonderful story. A simple wooden post. No complicated technology. No energy consumption. No machinery. Just a bird of prey once again given the chance to do what it evolved to do millions of years ago. For many businesses, this perfectly symbolises what sustainable enterprise is really about. Working intelligently with nature. Not against it.

Frequently asked questions

Will birds of prey therefore catch more mice?: This is possible, but depends on numerous factors such as the availability of suitable prey, the season and the local bird-of-prey population. A birds-of-prey post mainly increases the opportunities for natural predation; it does not guarantee a specific effect.

Why not simply plant a tree?: A tree naturally also has ecological value. But it takes many years to reach sufficient height. A birds-of-prey post can function immediately as an observation point. The two can complement each other perfectly.

Can any bird of prey use such a post?: No. Its use varies by species and depends on the landscape. Species that hunt in particular from a fixed vantage point, such as kestrels and buzzards, benefit most from it.

Give birds of prey a vantage point

Help install and maintain a durable birds-of-prey post in a local agricultural landscape.

€ 1,000 excluding VAT per year