Where have they gone? - Claire Cartwright on Swifts

martincharlick
Aug 18
3 min read

Do you ever look up to the skies and wonder where all the swifts, swallows and house martins have gone?

As a child the skies seemed to be full of these daring acrobats, wheeling, and swirling overhead, screeching and squealing with delight and joy. But now there is silence, with an odd passing swoop migrating through.

Looking around the parish there are a few nesting sites but not many, not enough to ensure these birds continued existence.

This has been recognised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) who in December 2021 placed the Swift and the House Martin on the RED list of Birds of Conservation Concern 5 (BOCC5).

Why have the reductions in numbers occurred? There are several reasons all of which compound together for the catastrophe for these birds:

· Habitat

· Reduced food – insects / pollinators

· Climate change

· Songbird catching on migration

Of the above causes, as individuals living in Sutton Mandeville, we can have little impact; except for one - Habitat!

This is the one solution that we as individuals, here in Sutton Mandeville, could affect. We could help reverse the decline or even allow these birds to flourish in the skies above us.

The habitat for Swifts and House Martins and other cavity nest builders has been diminishing at an alarming rate. This is due to new housing estates / houses being built better without the cracks and crevices that enable these birds to nest in. Also as repairs to older houses occur the entrances to these nests are blocked, so that they cannot be used.

Swifts in particular are loyal nest occupiers and will return each season to the same nest. If these are blocked, then they may even die trying to enter the nest. House Martins make mud nests on soffits and fascia, the material being used for these parts of the house are more likely to be uPVC to which the mud does not stick permanently or strongly for the brood to grow and fledge.

The solution that is within our reach is to place swift nest boxes on our houses and for new builds to use swift brick that replaces one or two bricks. In our iconic stone houses the swift brick can be of an unobtrusive grey colour and the stone cladding can camouflage around the brick, so that it fits in with our local traditional buildings. For current stone houses: householders that would like to encourage these birds, an external Swift nest box is a solution.

Above: Swift Brick and Swift Nest Box

Through the Swift Local Network (SLN) I have been able to secure an expert who will provide and site the Swift Nest Boxes on houses within the parish. The cost of these are £50 single or & £95 for double box. They will be available for installation in the new year (2026) in time for the new season's arrivals in April.

If you are interested in having one of these bricks or nest boxes please contact me - Claire Cartwright. (E-mail clumpcartwright@gmail.com, or text phone 07771 960855)

I am also campaigning that at the planning stage, local Councils consider a recommendation for all new builds or extensions to include at least one correctly sited Swift brick.

References:

Action for swift: https://actionforswifts.blogspot.com/

Salisbury and Wilton Swifts: https://www.salisburyandwiltonswifts.org/

British Trust for Ornithology: https://www.bto.org/

These birds are truly a force of nature, here are some facts.