factory roof tiles bird shelters
Sarah Biren
Sarah Biren
July 8, 2020 ·  4 min read

A factory started to produce roof tiles that serve as bird shelters

Bird’s nests are often found inconvenient places, but with 55% of the world’s population living in urban areas, birds are losing spots to build nests. That’s how we end up finding nests on statues, streetlamps, windowsills, alleys, shoes left outside, and even on car tires. To no one’s surprise, bird populations are suffering. Fortunately, one company initiated a creative design for a bird shelter to help birds flourish in an urban environment. 

Klaas Kuiken, the Dutch product design agency, created a roof tile that also functions as a bird house. This design was snatched by Hitat Terra, a Turkish terracotta manufacturer based in the town of Çorum. Mahmoud Basic, the regional director for the national parks, explained that the tiles were being created and distributed free of charge. 

Developing Bird House Roof Tiles 

Cengiz Başaranhıncal and Ali Arslan, the founders of Hitit Terra, got the idea for the product after finding the design on social media. Arsan explained that the price of the tile online was about $70, too high, in his opinion, so they began creating their own design for the local market. 

The bird nest tiles were tested by Afyon Nature Conservation and the 5th Regional Directorate of National Parks, whose feedback help complete the design. The company now produces five different tiles to accommodate different kinds of birds. Also, some species prefer to flock in a group and nest together. Having several bird house tiles allows the flock to stick together. [1] 

According to the Klaas Kuiken website, inside the bird house and underneath roof tile is a nesting basket made of wood and a bird screen. The nesting provides ventilation and prevents the birds from sneaking underneath the roof and it helps keep the nest clean after breeding periods. This can also provide protection from cats and other predators. 

The bird house is attached to the roof tile with a special kind of glue that’s resistant to extreme temperatures so it stays firm during the winter. [3] 

The Tradition of Bird Houses in Turkey 

Bird houses have been present throughout Turkish history. During the Ottoman Empire, people would design beautiful, detailed mini palaces for birds. They provided shelter for the creatures and it was believed that whoever builds bird houses were blessed with goodness. 

Turkey is a typical stopover for migratory birds since it is the bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa. About 6.4 million birds cross the Anatolian peninsula every year. During this transition, Turkey hosts over 400 different birds migrating and resting there as they feed and breed. As civilization developed, birds have been having a harder time finding places to nest. As nice as the palaces are, they don’t provide much space for the large amount of birds coming in. The bird house tiles offer a simpler design that will stay out of people’s ways and can provide for more birds than ever. [4] 

Read: Man Designs An Off-Road “Wheelchair” So That His Wife Can Go Places She Never Imagined, It’s Now Up For Mass-Production.

Critisms of the Bird House Roof Tiles 

As cool and practical the roof tile bird houses may seem, many people have responded critically to the idea. Some comment that bird droppings might appear all over a person’s property, while others worry that the houses would become too hot as the sun beats on the roof during summer months. That’s one of the reasons why most birdhouses are made of wood. 

Mrtn17 commented that “I build bird houses too. Wish I could send him some feedback, cause that resting stick is very handy for predators. Birds don’t use it (only in cartoon). And make smaller holes, 3.2 cm is perfect for finches, for example. This one is way too big, it’s a snack dispenser for cats now.” 

How to Install the Bird House Roof Tiles 

If you’re interested in purchasing the bird house tile, click here

The instructions on the website recommend place the bird house on the north/east side of the house, or at least out of direct sunlight as much as possible to avoid it from overheating. Also, place it lower on the roof where there’s better ventilation.  

Here’s how to install the bird house step by step: 

  1. Choose where the bird house roof tile will be placed then remove the current roof tile and the tiles on the left and top. 
  1. Place the nest box on the roof surface against the roof tiles on the right and bottom sides. 
  1. Place the birdhouse roof tile over the nesting box. This is easiest with a movement from bottom to top. If you are unsure about the stability of the birdhouse roof tile, it is recommended to fix the tile to the tile batten by means of a nail or screw. 
  1. Replace the roof tiles on the left and top, so that the nest box will be completely closed. 

Read: Dad Built His Rescue Dog With Trust Issues A Tiny House In The Living Room To Get ‘Alone Time’

References: 

[1] “Turn Your Roof Into A Bird Sanctuary With These Innovative Roof Tiles.” Anastasia Arellano. The Animal Rescue Site Blog

[2] “The smallest patch of green to arrest the monotony of asphalt and concrete is as important to the value of real estate as streets, sewers and convenient shopping.” James Felt. 

[4] “This Company Has Created Roof Tiles That Double As Birdhouses.” Awesome Inventions

[5] “These Multipurpose Roof Tiles Also Provide A House For Birds.” Li Nefas. Bored Panda. June 7, 2020