Where do birds live when we take away so many trees to shape our cities and landscapes? Sure, we've all seen those little birdhouses in parks, with tiny birds flitting in and out. They're great, but not all birds use boxes. Larger birds need open nests in trees.

Latvia's ancient forests and unique ecosystems are home to rare species and have become central to the country's biodiversity efforts. Habitat loss, driven by forestry and agriculture, has left many birds without the ”right” trees for nesting – tall, old, with a view over the surrounding space. Some are now trying out alternatives and nest on other high structures, like electricity poles, instead.

That's where the bird experts are stepping in, using treetops to do what nature typically handles alone. They build artificial nests from twigs and branches for rare and protected bird species – golden eagles, black storks, eagle owls, sea eagles, and ospreys.

Ornithologist Jānis Ķuze explains that birds haven't lost their nesting instincts, but due to the changes in Latvia's forest landscape, many, like the golden eagle, rely almost entirely on man-made nests. These artificial nests, built from natural materials, often become homes not just for one species but are reused by others too.