Estepona brings the bats and the owls to gardens and parks as bug hunters

Estepona council has installed specialist teams nest boxes Encourage vulnerable bats and European Owls to return into two public parks

Collaborative conservation effort

Local naturalists in Grupo Naturalista Sierra Bermeja ‘Grunsber‘, who requested artificial refuges for the species. Council brigades responded quickly, placing six purpose-built boxes across Parque de Los Abuelos and Parque Seghers. The structures were designed specifically for bats and small raptors, creating a safe urban habitat in the growing coastal city.

Legal protection and vulnerability status

Spanish and European laws protect all bats, but several species are at risk of extinction or vulnerability within Spain. The European scops-owl is the smallest nocturnal bird in Spain, and appears as vulnerable in 2021’s Red Book of Spanish Birds.
Both animals readily accept artificial housing, making nest boxes a useful and practical tool to encourage their presence among human development.

Natural pest control benefits

Insatiable bats are powerful ecologists, as they consume mosquitoes and other insects in large numbers. They are voracious feeders and help to suppress populations, especially against invasive mosquitoes like yellow fever or tiger mosquitoes.

The European scops-owl also contributes by focusing on larger invertebrates. Their diet consists of moths as well as crickets, grasshoppers, and cockroaches. This provides natural control in residential areas, which reduces the need for chemical intervention.

Forward-looking urban ecology

This project demonstrates a commitment from Estepona Council To harmonious integration between city and nature. By installing these refuges authorities and volunteers can encourage biodiversity, while also providing practical benefits for residents through improved pest management.

In the future, similar measures could be implemented in more green spaces to strengthen local ecosystems as they are vulnerable to climate pressures and urban growth. Estepona residents can now take advantage of parks that actively protect threatened wildlife. This progressive Andalusian destination combines recreation and conservation. Blue tits are next in line to be increased as they are known to be voracious caterpillar eaters.