Artist Builds 3,500 Birdhouses From Scrapwood To Encourage Birds To Stay In Cities

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

As cities have developed and become overridden with humans, honking cars, and polluted air, most animals have chosen to relocate to safer and quieter lands – except birds.

Birds remain one of the few free creatures to willingly co-exist with mankind as development continues. For this reason, believes artist and activist Thomas Dambo, it is important to help them feel welcome by offering them safe places to reside.

Over the past seven years, Dambo has dedicated his free time to constructing birdhouses from scrapwood. His colorful creations have been placed all over the world, and have helped raise awareness about the necessity to protect wildlife that chooses to reside in urban locations.

Thomas relays:

“Birds are some of the few animals still living in our cities, and I began this project because I thought that it was important to make sure that they can continue living here.”

Often asked if birds use the houses, Dambo explains that if the birdhouses are hung in the right places, they will be utilized.

“…birds move into the houses if there are birds in the area, so birds will not move into the houses if they are hung on a light pole next to a noisy road. But they will do it in a tree in a park.”

This project is not only about creating a shelter for birds, but reminding the world that it is important to honor creatures of all sizes as we – humans – continue to develop better so we might live more comfortably in the modern world.

Scroll through some of the photos Dambo shared with Bored Panda: 

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

This totem was created as part of a recycle workshop involving the local community.

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

Thomas created this recycle birdhouse decoration for the nordic counsel during culture night in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

All of the houses are made from scrapwood, and are painted in colors matching the flags of the nordic countries. 

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

This birdhouse totem is a part of Dambo’s ongoing Happy City Birds project and consists of 300 birdhouses put together on a tree.

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

This collection was made from broken skateboards in 2012. All the boards were donated by local skateboarders around Copenhagen. 

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

These birdhouses even look like birds!

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

600 birdhouses were used in an installation for a festival. Afterward, Dambo gave all the birdhouses away to people, asking them to hang them up and send pictures.

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

The camouflage bird house project is all about creating safe homes for our little friends.

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

“I even made a big birdhouse for myself!”

Credit: Thomas Dambo
Credit: Thomas Dambo

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