Belgrade Billboard Obstructing Protected Birds to Be Removed

A prominent "Serbia Wins" billboard displayed on the Palata Albanija building in Belgrade is set to be removed following public outcry and a warning from the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Biology. The billboard has been criticized for obstructing the nesting and feeding of white swifts, a protected bird species. Finance Minister Siniša Mali announced on May 30, 2026, that the billboard would be taken down, stating, "The billboard will be removed today, as soon as the workers gather." Mali also used the opportunity to criticize those who have previously damaged buildings and harmed educational systems, suggesting their complaints about the billboard were hypocritical. The Faculty of Biology had previously alerted authorities, noting that the white swift is a rare species that nests in Serbia and spends the rest of the year in Africa. Since 2018, a population of 50-100 nesting pairs has been observed in Belgrade, with a significant colony residing on the Palata Albanija. The faculty warned that the advertising banner prevents adult swifts from accessing their nests and feeding their young, directly threatening the survival of the Belgrade population. Citizens had organized a protest in front of the building the previous evening, demanding the billboard's removal. Reports indicate that groups filed criminal complaints and called for police and fire department intervention, but no immediate action was taken by the authorities.

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The billboard will be removed today, as soon as the workers gather. I don't know who put up that billboard, but it will be removed.