Page 65 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

A swift returns to its
nestbox with a full
throat pouch. Inside is
a ball of insects, glued
together with saliva.
Right: a walk led by
Bradford-on-Avon’s
swift group visits Holy
Trinity Church.

street, is an existing swift hotspot with 10–12 discussion, rather than by spreadsheets,
pairs nesting in natural cavities under heavy targets and strategy documents.
stone roof tiles. “Last year we played swift- “We learned how to do a proper swift
attraction calls from the tower at dawn and count after reading a message on the Swifts
dusk,” explains Roger. “After just two days, we Local Network,” says Rowena. “The SLN
saw swifts veer towards it and fly around for a is a godsend. It was started in 2014 after a
closer look.” Playback is a tried-and-tested way conference organised by Action for Swifts,
of boosting the likelihood of colonisation. and is great for passing on information.”
One unexpected problem was a pair of Meanwhile, Daniel Kronenberg, who set up
peregrines that also investigated the tower. Salisbury’s swift group, is visiting Bradford
Who do you help: peregrines or swifts? In the to help advise on surveying techniques. “He’s
end a decision was made not to encourage the fantastic at spotting nests,” Rowena says.
falcons by providing a nesting platform like This June the informal network holds
those on other churches. However, there may its first swift awareness week. Jean points
not actually be a conflict, since these raptors out that “an awful lot of people can’t tell the
don’t usually hunt so close to their own nest. difference between swifts, swallows and
martins. They get them mixed up, or call
WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS them all swallows.” If you can’t even name
Getting developers onside is more of an issue. a bird, how can you understand its needs?
Swifts are site-faithful, so if a nest is blocked Nature reserves don’t save swifts; people do.
up, that pair is lost. This is true even if the People like you. The Bradford group’s latest
obstruction is temporary – scaffolding, for idea to win hearts and minds is persuading a
instance. Once gone, swifts don’t come back. brewery to produce swift-branded beer mats
“My biggest bugbear is developers not putting and ale. It would certainly bring new meaning
in swift bricks,” says Jean. “It’s so easy.” But to getting in a couple of ‘swift ones’.
builders can be cooperative. “Once we talked
to some scaffolders who took our leaflets and + GET INVOLVED
were really interested,” says Rowena. UK SwiftAwarenessWeek is 16–23June.For events
One of the most striking things about and how to help swifts,visit www.swift-conservation.
g
Bradford-on-Avon’s swift group is how they org and www.actionforswifts.blogspot.com.
Judith feeds her share knowhow with like-minded souls
swifts insects by from Lewes to Leeds, Hackney to Helmsley, BEN HOARE is BBC Wildlife features
hand –a diicult, Sedbergh to Suffolk. This is conservation by editor and also writes the monthly
laborious process.
text message, blog post and online forum Highlights section (see p8–9).
June 2018 BBC Wildlife 65