New 'Mosquito Terminator' project aims to do away with irritating insects
The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre is home to the region's first 'Mosquito Terminator' concept, which is simply a nesting platform for species that feed on the world's most hated insects.
The concept is simple; the more barn swallows and bats that can find safe and peaceful shelter, the more mosquitoes they will eat, effectively decreasing the blood sucking bug's population in the area.
"Nobody loves mosquitoes other than those that eat them," said Kelly Weatherall, Fortis Alberta senior planner and the mastermind behind the nesting platform.
"Barn swallows tend to nest under people's houses and they tend to be over doors or windows," said Weathereall. "They make a mess, and people try to get rid of them so I'm thinking well, here we want them, so let's make a spot for them."
The nesting platforms are designed to withstand southern Alberta's fierce wind while effectively simulating the roof of a barn.
With the birds hunting during the day and bats going out to eat at night, the concept is essentially a 24/7 mosquito killing operation.
"Barn swallows and especially bats are just voracious consumers of mosquitoes and so we all know how bugs like that really irritate us and it's good to use a real natural control," said Colin Weir, the executive director for the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre.
"One of the things that we want to do at the centre is, we want this to be a place where there are different ideas that people can actually take and use them in their own farms, acreages, and even urban backyards," Weir said.
Mosquito terminator
UNVEILED THURSDAY
The project was unveiled on Thursday, and no birds or bats have moved in just yet.
But the goal is for the project to take flight by making this a more mainstream approach to mosquito control while offering a safe space for barn swallows and bats.
"It is a pretty neat looking structure and it is a unique design so there's a lot to be learned," said Fortis Alberta president and CEO Janine Sullivan.
"That's the whole idea these days is to understand how projects like this can help us really sustain the environment and support wildlife."
An individual swallow or bat can eat up to a thousand mosquitoes per day, which is a promising statistic for the project.
Fortis Alberta is the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre's biggest supporter having donated $720,000 since 2006.
During Thursday's unveiling of the nesting platform, the company presented the centre with another $50,000 cheque to cover operating costs during the centres' most challenging year ever.
"They've just been such a wonderful, supportive corporate sponsor over the years. They're making a meaningful difference to the environment here in southern Alberta," said Weir.
The centre opened its doors on May 15 and is open to the public seven days a week from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.