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Swifts & How to Swifts & How to encourage them in encourage them in
Tower Hamlets!Tower Hamlets!
Edward Mayer – London's SwiftsEdward Mayer – London's Swifts
Swifts dance in the sky, bring Swifts dance in the sky, bring joy and life, and eat only insects!joy and life, and eat only insects!
Dynamic! Dramatic! Beautiful! Exciting! Clean!Dynamic! Dramatic! Beautiful! Exciting! Clean!Harmless! Beneficial! Easy & cheap to house!Harmless! Beneficial! Easy & cheap to house!
Swifts see our buildings as crags Swifts see our buildings as crags or cliffs... places to breed inor cliffs... places to breed in
Many cliff and mountain birds have moved into our citiesMany cliff and mountain birds have moved into our cities
But these types of nest place are But these types of nest place are vanishing fast in the UK & Europe toovanishing fast in the UK & Europe too
Swifts have nested in the eaves gaps in Swifts have nested in the eaves gaps in buildings for over 2000 yearsbuildings for over 2000 years
Swifts are opportunists, and Swifts are opportunists, and nest in any suitable holenest in any suitable hole
Swifts nest just inside the building, usually right on the edge of Swifts nest just inside the building, usually right on the edge of the aperture. They occupy the space for 10 weeks each year.the aperture. They occupy the space for 10 weeks each year.
Yet modern buildings usually Yet modern buildings usually exclude themexclude them
New offices development in Finsbury Square, MoorgateNew offices development in Finsbury Square, Moorgate
And essential repairs often evict And essential repairs often evict Swifts for goodSwifts for good
Right - Housing Association re-roofing in West HampsteadRight - Housing Association re-roofing in West HampsteadLeft – anti bird “brush” grilles for inserting in eavesLeft – anti bird “brush” grilles for inserting in eaves
So Swifts are in major decline, So Swifts are in major decline, and may soon be locally extinctand may soon be locally extinct
In the past 12 years...Swifts in the UKa decrease of 29%a decrease of 29%
Swifts in the South Easta decrease of 53%a decrease of 53%and the next 12 years?
Swifts lie dead after colliding with wrapped buildings, Swifts lie dead after colliding with wrapped buildings, trying to regain their neststrying to regain their nests
What can we do? Build for What can we do? Build for Swifts as well as people !Swifts as well as people !
Notting Hill Housing Assn / LB Barnet - New Barnet Sheltered Notting Hill Housing Assn / LB Barnet - New Barnet Sheltered Housing 2006Housing 2006
Swifts are clean, tidy and only Swifts are clean, tidy and only here for 12 weeks each year here for 12 weeks each year
You can download this drawing from our Web Site!You can download this drawing from our Web Site!
Swifts will move into new buildings, Swifts will move into new buildings, ifif they can get in! they can get in!
ART / Newlon The Arsenal Apartments 2006ART / Newlon The Arsenal Apartments 2006
Nestplaces are easy & cheap to fit!Nestplaces are easy & cheap to fit!
Schwegler and Ibstock Swift Nest Bricks – the former Schwegler and Ibstock Swift Nest Bricks – the former installed during the building of this care homeinstalled during the building of this care home
111 New Cavendish Street W1 111 New Cavendish Street W1 Renovating Offices & FlatsRenovating Offices & FlatsAdding penthouses to the Adding penthouses to the building created an building created an opportunity for both a opportunity for both a “green roof” & nest “green roof” & nest places for birds and batsplaces for birds and bats
and Westminster's Planners and Westminster's Planners took this opportunity, making took this opportunity, making nest places a planning nest places a planning requirementrequirement
With small additions this site will With small additions this site will easily host benign birds & batseasily host benign birds & bats
The boxes will be fitted within the plant areas on the roof The boxes will be fitted within the plant areas on the roof ensuring privacy and low visibility to humans and predatorsensuring privacy and low visibility to humans and predators
With a bit of care you can retain With a bit of care you can retain existingexisting Swift nests too Swift nests too
Wren Nest Mills in Derbyshire – converted to flats - Wren Nest Mills in Derbyshire – converted to flats - retaining 22 Swift nests within its stone block wallsretaining 22 Swift nests within its stone block walls
But Swifts don't But Swifts don't have have to nest in to nest in buildings.....buildings.....
Swift Towers - like this one - can be Swift Towers - like this one - can be put up on almost any siteput up on almost any site
It's just as easy to help other It's just as easy to help other great creaturesgreat creatures
Grey Wagtail Pipistrelle BatGrey Wagtail Pipistrelle Bat
Pied Wagtail Black RedstartPied Wagtail Black Redstart
More choosy birds...More choosy birds...
You can attract House Martins – but ensure they have water, You can attract House Martins – but ensure they have water, mud and abundant insects to make nests and feed their youngmud and abundant insects to make nests and feed their young
In fact you can attract the In fact you can attract the most amazing birds!most amazing birds!
Berberis bushes will provide berries for Waxwings to eat in WinterBerberis bushes will provide berries for Waxwings to eat in Winter
And if Global Warming And if Global Warming reallyreally takes off...takes off...
Spanish Vultures have already made Spanish Vultures have already made two attempts to fly to the UK...two attempts to fly to the UK...
NB it is vital to get the right advice NB it is vital to get the right advice before you start!before you start!
London's Swifts training environmental London's Swifts training environmental consultants at Stirling University in 2007consultants at Stirling University in 2007
Please Help Swifts!Please Help Swifts!For more information seeFor more information [email protected]
This presentation and its contents are
© copyright 2008
the author Edward Mayer and the photographers and
may not be reproduced without their consent
For further information please contact
London's [email protected]
020 7794 2098
