The old tower in Climbacher Bornweg will soon be obsolete as a transformer station. The 8.50 metre high structure will be replaced by a transformer station barely the height of a man's chest in a green housing. This is currently being installed by Netzgesellschaft Mittelhessen GmbH (MIT.N). MIT.N. operates the electricity grid of Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) in Climbach. MIT.N, SWG and Jochen Karl, the initiator of the project, hope that rare bat species, swifts and barn owls will then take up residence in the tower.
MIT.N and Jochen Karl are remodelling the building so that the endangered species can actually take up residence there. MIT.N is bearing the conversion costs in the amount of the demolition costs that would otherwise be incurred. That is around 2,700 euros. Jochen Karl is covering the rest: for the installation of the nesting boxes, for observation cameras and the necessary technical and electrical infrastructure.
As a landscape planner, Jochen Karl is not only professionally committed to species conservation, but in this case also for very personal reasons: The engineer and the substation tower are old acquaintances. They have lived next door to each other for years. "The substation is right next to my property," he reports. "When I found out about the planned demolition as part of the grid modernisation, I immediately approached MIT.N - and found an open ear for my concerns." Jochen Karl knew that a small colony of bats was already living in the cracks of the station. Demolishing the building would have been fatal for them, as suitable living space is scarce for species like these. "More and more attics are being converted or hermetically sealed. This makes it increasingly difficult for many animal species to survive," explains Jochen Karl, who also sits on the district's nature conservation advisory board. He believes that the old station is ideal as a new home for the flying creatures that are worth protecting. "The tower is on the edge of the village. It is surrounded by orchards, forest edges and an old pond with plenty of food. For barn owls, for example, it is also very important that it is quiet, that they have free access and that the entrance hole is at least five metres high."
MIT.N. has already started to convert the netting. Martin Hajdu, project manager at MIT.N., is confident that the building can be handed over empty to Jochen Karl in July. "We have sold him the station for a symbolic value," explains Martin Hajdu. Firstly, a false floor will be installed, the roof truss will be adapted for hanging bat species such as the greater mouse-eared bat and various nesting aids for swifts, house martins and barn owls will be built into the outer wall. "We are also installing a winter roost for pipistrelle bats on the outside," emphasises Jochen Karl.
He will provide scientific support for the colonisation. "I can keep a close eye on what's happening from home using infrared surveillance cameras. I want to gain experience with the acceptance of certain nesting aids and see how the animals behave. This will give us valuable insights for future projects," he says. "I will also offer school classes and other interested groups the opportunity to gain an insight into the lives of the new residents. It's important to me to raise awareness of the fascination of our diverse wildlife and the conditions that endangered bird species and bats need to live."
SWG and MIT.N have been committed to nature conservation for many years: "For example, we made disused electricity pylons available to committed bird conservationists. These now serve as nesting and landing sites for a wide variety of bird species," says Martin Hajdu. "Nature conservation is important to us. That's why we also attach great importance to ensuring that overhead lines are safe for birds during grid construction. And where it is economically viable, we now lay power lines underground - also to protect the visual landscape.