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Today, architects and engineers have a new responsibility — and opportunity — to design buildings capable of generating real ecosystem services. Birds are one of the most efficient vectors to achieve this. Supported by the ServiBirds study (2026), birds provide key services such as:
In other words, birds provide measurable functions that can be integrated into the project.
The integration of urban birds in buildings represents a paradigm shift: buildings cease to be passive elements and become ecological assets capable of generating measurable ecosystem services. Through rigorous design — based on technical criteria, ecological knowledge, and integration from the project stage — it is possible to enhance functions such as pest control, seed dispersal, or improving urban well-being. This approach not only meets the growing requirements of frameworks like the EU Taxonomy or LEED and BREEAM certifications, but also positions architects and engineers in a new line of value: the creation of integrated green infrastructure. The challenge is no longer just to build better, but to build buildings that function as active parts of urban ecosystems.
Contemporary construction has virtually eliminated all nesting opportunities. The design of modern buildings no longer offers suitable nesting sites because they lack ventilation holes, attics, or double ceilings. This has led to a decline in the urban bird population such as kestrels and swallows, and therefore, the loss of ecosystem services and the impoverishment of urban biodiversity.
How to enhance ecosystem services in buildings through urban birds?
🧱 Architectural integration from the project stage: Design nesting spaces as part of the building, not as an added element.
📐 Design based on ecological parameters: Biodiversity requires specific technical criteria.
🐦 Species specialization: Each species provides different services and requires specific conditions.
🌙 Illumination control (dark design): Artificial light can negate ecosystem services.
🌿 Connection with green infrastructure: Birds need a functional environment, not just the nest.
📊 Integration in certifications and regulations: Turning biodiversity into a measurable asset.
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Esther Sebastián-González, Susana Carrión, Cristian Pérez-Granados, Germán M. López-Iborra, Francisco Botella, Claudia Pérez, Gloria Rocher, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, José García-Rodríguez, José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata, and Adrian Orihuela-Torres "Servibirds: Quantitative Assessment of the Ecosystem Services Provided by Native Birds in Spain," Ardeola 73(1), 43-66, (22 October 2025). https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.73.1.2026.ra3
