Wildlife in the cities

Wings over the Baltic

Mallards in Turku, Finland in the wintertime.

This new corner of the Bulletin presents birds common in most UBC cities. Birds have been chosen for this section because they can promote environmental protection work in the cities, as they represent visible wildlife in the urban environment. Birds can act as a link between town-dwellers and the nature outside the city, thereby playing a potentially significant role in raising environmental awareness and contributing to environmental protection in general.

Many cities have utilized this opportunity by arranging protected areas within or close to the city. A good example is the City of Helsinki, with a protected area of over 250 hectares practically in the centre of the city!

The first species in our series is the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), which can be seen in all cities round the Baltic Sea. It has found its way even to the hearts of the cities; it populates many market places looking for leftovers and is common in parks, etc.

Feeding mallards can be the first contact small children have with nature. This contact can - and should - be strengthened to become a strong, lasting link leading to a sustainable way of life in the future.

All UBC member cities are encouraged to contribute to this section by sending bird-related material, e.g., how the existence of birds has been utilized in the environmental work, how fowls are protected, etc.

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