Torrevieja Installs 20 House Martin Nests at University Hospital

20 artificial nests placed on hospital facade to boost protected bird population and natural mosquito control near La Laguna – part of biodiversity plan

TORREVIEJA – During February 2026, the Torrevieja Town Council installed 20 artificial nesting boxes for the common house martin (Delichon urbicum) on the exterior facade of the University Hospital of Torrevieja. The initiative, carried out in collaboration with the hospital, aims to strengthen existing colonies of this protected migratory bird species and enhance natural biological control of mosquitoes in the area.

The project forms part of the municipal Plan for the Promotion of Biodiversity, implemented by the company CTL under the Urban Pest Control Service contract. The nests were strategically positioned on the side of the hospital building that borders the Laguna de Torrevieja – an ideal habitat where house martins were already observed nesting last year. By providing ready-made nesting sites, the initiative encourages settlement, breeding success and population growth of this ecologically valuable species.

“This type of initiative demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, integrating biodiversity protection as a complementary tool in urban pest management.”

— Diana Box Alonso, Councillor for Pest Control

Ecological Role of House Martins

The common house martin is a small migratory passerine bird belonging to the swallow family. Each year it travels approximately 10,000 kilometres between its African wintering grounds and European breeding sites, returning faithfully to the same locations between March and September – precisely when mosquito populations peak in the Mediterranean climate. A single pair can consume thousands of flying insects daily, making them highly effective natural predators of mosquitoes and other pests.

In hospital environments, where mosquitoes can act as disease vectors, encouraging these birds provides an eco-friendly, chemical-free method of pest suppression. The project therefore combines public health benefits with active conservation of a protected species whose urban populations have declined in many areas due to loss of nesting sites on modern buildings.

Broader Biodiversity Strategy in Torrevieja

Torrevieja’s location next to the saltwater Laguna de Torrevieja creates a unique ecological interface between urban, saline and wetland habitats. The biodiversity plan recognises this potential and actively promotes actions that support native wildlife while delivering practical services to residents. Previous efforts have included bat boxes, insect hotels and native plantings – all aimed at building resilient urban ecosystems that help regulate pest populations naturally.

Councillor Diana Box Alonso emphasised the dual purpose: “By reinforcing house martin colonies we not only protect a valuable migratory species but also strengthen nature-based solutions against mosquitoes – especially important near healthcare facilities and residential areas close to the lagoon.”

As climate change and urbanisation continue to influence insect behaviour and bird migration patterns, initiatives like this one position Torrevieja as a forward-thinking municipality on the southern Costa Blanca. The hospital installation is expected to yield visible results from spring 2026 onwards, with increased bird activity and reduced local mosquito nuisance during the warmer months.

For more information on Torrevieja’s biodiversity and pest control programmes, visit the Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja website.