Twenty nesting boxes for common house martins have been installed this month on the northern façade of Torrevieja University Hospital, next to the Salt Lagoon Natural Park and the town’s salt works. The initiative, led by the council, aims to strengthen colonies detected in the area last year and encourage breeding in what is considered an ideal habitat.

The common house martin is a protected migratory bird of high ecological value. It travels around 10,000 kilometres each year and returns to its breeding areas between March and September, coinciding with peak mosquito activity. Each bird can catch more than 500 mosquitoes a day, making it particularly valuable near healthcare facilities.

The project forms part of Torrevieja’s Biodiversity Promotion Plan, delivered by CTL under the town’s urban pest control contract. It follows collaboration between the hospital and the council to integrate biodiversity into pest management strategies.

Councillor for Pest Control Diana Box Alonso said the action reflects the council’s commitment to sustainable urban policies. Municipal biologist Juan Antonio Pujol stressed the nests will not eradicate mosquitoes or replace authorised larvicides and pesticides, especially after heavy rain and rising temperatures, but said species such as house martins and bats significantly reduce mosquito numbers around the lagoon.