Like a network, the orange markings stretch across Switzerland, sometimes standing out in the landscape, sometimes in villages, and sometimes in industrial areas, catching the eye with their striking color. They are signals of a central but invisible infrastructure. Serving as a visual system, these markings are used to locate the gas transportation network and are therefore of great importance in terms of safety.

Artist Daniel Ritter, with his project “Panoramic Perch Poles,” also adapts these markings to nature in a functional way by equipping them with perches that provide birds with a place to rest, hunt, or engage in self-care. The project is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Transitgas AG, the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry (VSG), a land art project, and ornithological expertise.

The tawny owl and the long-eared owl exclusively use these perches during dusk, as their hunting behavior, particularly the detection of prey, relies on their eyesight. On the other hand, the barn owl, which primarily hunts at night, requires these elevated perches to locate its prey. The wooden beams offer immediate security during approach. These sturdy seating areas are therefore very useful and valuable.