Wildlife and Plant Conservation at Birds Hotel Molino

At Birds Hotel Molino, we have adopted principles of nature conservation. Our goal is to make the property a place where wildlife and plants can live, reproduce, and find the resources they need in a pollution-free environment.

This decision has clear benefits for biodiversity conservation, but it also comes with certain limitations.

To protect this environment, we have had to accept that not every convenience of modern civilization can be present here. We have strict rules regarding the use of artificial light during the day and at night, noise levels, the number of guests we can accommodate, how people move around the property, and the use of pesticides. These restrictions are not intended to make our guests’ experience more difficult, but rather to preserve a fragile ecosystem that is under pressure from pollution and human activity.

Protecting Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are a very special part of life at Birds Hotel Molino. Some are born here. During their first few days, they cannot fly and depend completely on having a safe environment.

Clean and Safe Feeders

Hummingbird feeders require constant attention. At certain times of the year, they may need to be changed up to three times a day. Simply adding fresh water is not enough. Feeders must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent mold and nectar fermentation, especially in hot, sunny conditions.

As a general rule, we never leave a feeder uncleaned for more than two days. During periods of intense heat or increased hummingbird activity, we clean them much more frequently. A resource intended to help hummingbirds should never become a health risk to them.

Darkness Is Also Part of Nature

At night, we do not permanently illuminate our outdoor spaces. Artificial light can alter the behavior of many animals and disrupt their natural rhythms. When we need to move around the property, we use only personal lights and only for as long as necessary. The idea is simple: when night arrives, we let night be night.

Photography must also be done without artificial lighting that could disturb the birds. For us, observing a hummingbird does not mean getting the perfect photograph at any cost. It means having the opportunity to see one without turning our presence into a disturbance.

A Space Free of Introduced Predators

One of our most important decisions was not to have cats on the property. Domestic cats can become highly effective predators of wild birds, even when they are not intentionally hunting.

If we want hummingbirds to be able to reproduce and raise their young here, we must also protect them from dangers that we ourselves could introduce.

Maintaining Flowering Plants

Feeders are only one part of a hummingbird's food supply. Flowers are essential. That is why we preserve the plants that provide food for hummingbirds and strive to maintain a diversity of flowers throughout the year.

Hummingbirds know their territory. They have their own schedules, favorite flowers, and regular feeders. Sometimes they perch for only a few seconds. They arrive, assess whether a food source is available, and continue on their way. This behavior is part of a much broader strategy. The availability of food and shelter influences their movements and breeding decisions. Our role is to respect these natural rhythms.

Less Noise, Less Disturbance

We also limit noise throughout the property. Loud music and conversations are not permitted, nor are excessively large groups. For this reason, we do not organize school field trips or large-scale activities within the natural area.

The tranquility of the property is not simply a matter of comfort for our guests; it is part of protecting the habitat.

Caring for Other Birds

Feeding and Cleaning

Hummingbirds are not the only inhabitants of the garden. For other bird species, we provide additional resources, such as corn and other foods, placed in areas where the birds can access them easily and where we can properly monitor and clean the feeding areas.

These areas require regular maintenance. It is not simply a matter of putting out food. The places where birds feed must also be kept clean to prevent the accumulation of food waste and potential health problems.

Water for the Birds

We also have small ponds and water sources throughout the property. Although they are part of the naturalized landscape, some are artificial structures and therefore require human maintenance.

The water must be cleaned regularly. Creating an artificial resource for wildlife also means accepting the responsibility of maintaining it.

No Rodent Poison

Another important decision is not to use poison to control rodents. Poisons can affect not only the animals they are intended to target, but also other animals that come into contact with them directly or indirectly, such as owls.

In a small ecosystem, every intervention can have consequences that extend far beyond what we can see.

Caring for the Plants

The Slow Process of Organic Fertilization and Care

Wildlife conservation depends to a great extent on the conservation of vegetation. That is why one of our fundamental rules is to avoid pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

In Peru, the widespread use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is common, including in areas near Birds Hotel Molino. Plants that grow without being constantly exposed to these products may need more time to become established and develop, but our goal is to allow the garden to gradually evolve toward a more natural balance.

For this reason, we prefer to use natural fertilizers and natural pest-control methods, avoiding chemicals that could affect plants, insects, birds, and other organisms that are part of the ecosystem.

Leaves Have a Purpose Too

We do not systematically remove all the leaves that fall to the ground.

Leaf litter helps retain moisture, protects the soil, and, over time, returns organic matter to the earth. What may look like simple “mess” to us can actually be an important part of the garden’s natural processes.

Water: Conservation Also Means Maintaining Infrastructure

Irrigation is a complex issue. We know that water resources are under increasing pressure and that using water to maintain a garden can be questionable. At the same time, we also know that a significant amount of available water can be wasted because of deteriorating infrastructure, leaks, or systems that do not receive the necessary maintenance.

For us, therefore, water conservation also means properly maintaining the infrastructure we already have.

A well-maintained irrigation system allows us to use only the water that is actually needed.

Restoring Native Plants

We also work to reintroduce native plants. Local species are adapted to the region’s climate and soil conditions. In addition to helping protect the soil from erosion, they provide food, shelter, and other resources for wildlife.

And they are beautiful, too. Native plants do not only serve an ecological purpose; they also add beauty to the landscape and are simply a pleasure to see.

Conservation, Step by Step

Birds Hotel Molino is not a perfect or fully developed nature reserve. There is always more to learn, improve, and put into practice.

We admire the work of those who carry out conservation on a much larger scale: the vast national parks of the United States, the major conservation projects in Patagonia and Africa, and the spectacular forests of Finland.

Here at Birds Hotel Molino, on our own small scale, we try to create the conditions that allow nature to do what it does best: continually renew itself.