Peregrine falcon on EMC building Rotterdam (image: NRC)

Die-hards
A swan breeding in a nest made of polystyrene foam, pet bottles, and flip flops, instead of water lilies, algae and reed, is that pathetic? Not according to Jelle Reumer, director of the Natuurhistorisch Museum in Rotterdam. Swans and other (water-)birds just want to lay their eggs, in whatever is available in the city. This is also nature. What more species are there in the city next to these “die-hards”?

Rock residents
City pigeons are domesticated post pigeons who descend from the rock pigeons. This is why Jelle Reumer’s lecture is called why does a pigeon put its droppings on the Dam square and not on an oak tree? The city is a collection of rock facades. We build these rocks, not only for pigeons but also for swallows, peregrine falcons, black redstarts, etc.

Another rock resident can be found In Rotterdam nearby the Museum Park. A peregrine falcon made its home in the new build tower of the Erasmus Medical Center, right on top of its logo (the autograph of Erasmus).

Heat profiteers
The urban heating has its disadvantages but for some species it can be pleasant. Because the city is warmer than the rural area, it attracts for example foreigners like the southern Meconema that has probably been brought to the Netherlands by a Dutch tourist traveling back from Italy.

Biodiversity evolves in the city
Interesting is that the biodiversity system evolves: until now the green parakeets (species that increases in the city) didn’t have natural enemies. In Rotterdam however, the peregrine found a new catch: the green parakeet!

more info watch: Jelle Reumer’s lecture organised by the Universiteit van Nederland (in Dutch)