Swift Action Brings Results
Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group are volunteers dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of the swift. Their aim is to protect and enhance the traditional nesting sites of these iconic summer visitors and to establish new nesting sites, where appropriate, in the Hastings and Rother area of East Sussex.
Last week, 3rd-11th July was Swift Awareness Week, in the UK, organised by the national Action for Swifts group. And action follows awareness, so if you would like to take action, contact the local group at https://e-voice.org.uk/hastingsandrotherswifts
CREDIT: Action for Swifts
But first a reminder of why action needs to be taken. Sadly, these beautiful birds are in trouble with a 53% drop in breeding numbers in just 20 years. Reasons include demolition of buildings where swifts nested, renovations to buildings, and new-builds with sealed roofs and walls that do not provide swift nest options.
But we can help by spotting and protecting nest sites and urging local authorities, developers and builders to include swifts in their plans and individually we can put up nest boxes on our homes. One exciting example is the Battle Library’s clock tower. Soon after a local resident suggested this seemingly inaccessible site, scaffolding was erected by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to carry out essential maintenance work, and the ambitious project became reality!
CREDIT: Action for Swifts
Working together with ESCC, Clarke Roofing of Eastbourne, Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation and Dick Newell of Action for Swifts, the group slowly and methodically built the dream of twelve bespoke ‘S Bricks’ supplied by Action for Swifts. Swift Conservation kindly funded the bricks out of their donations. The bricks were eventually installed on Wednesday 21st April 2021, perfectly complementing the library building!
A swift call system will be installed by Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group and the whole project will be fully documented by those involved. An exhibition is planned along with live streamed video footage downstairs into the library once swifts have been successfully attracted and are nesting in the clock tower bricks. The scaffolding and plastic wrapping are due to come off the library tower in late 2021, and swifts will be able to discover their new ‘des-res’ in Battle in 2022!
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