Groups welcome the first swifts of spring
The birds return from Africa to various hotspots in our area
Members of Scarborough Swift Group have got off to a “flying start” this spring getting ready for the annual return of the endangered birds.
Group members have spent the winter making swift bird boxes with many already in position, and their work has spread further afield partnering with volunteers in Filey, Pickering and Whitby.
The group has also taken house martins under its wing as, like the swift, it is on the RSPB conservation red list.
Swifts arrive in the UK from Africa at the end of April or early May, and house martins in April .
The swifts land only to nest, so they may be on the wing for as long as three years, eating, sleeping, drinking and mating as they fly.
Rob Stark, chairman of Scarborough Swifts, said: “From our surveys last summer we have identified swift hotspots such as Eastfield, Barrowcliff, Seamer, Burniston, Scarborough Old Town and South Cliff.
“Erecting boxes in these areas will increase existing colonies but we also want to see boxes go up in other areas, as well as swift bricks on new builds and roof improvements.
“As buildings are modernised or roofs repaired the swift and house martin nesting sites are often destroyed or accidentally blocked. These
birds are really suffering from a shortage of nest sites,” he said.
Richard Scullion , from Thornton-le-Dale, is chief box maker and has recently spent four days erecting boxes in Scarborough, Pickering and Whitby.
The Whitby area has nearly 50 recent boxes and five swift bricks . In Pickering at least 20 new boxes have gone up this year and the group there has ambitious targets for the next few weeks. The Scarborough group has notched up 40 recent boxes and 10 bricks . Nest-prospecting swifts are encouraged by the sound of their “screaming” fellow swifts broadcast from automated sound systems used alongside boxes by the Scarborough group at Scarborough Rugby Club, Scarborough Council’s Dean Road depot , Scalby Mills and in Whitby .
“The roof designs , especially protruding joists, of houses built in the 1940s and 50s, like many of those in Eastfield,
seem particularly popular with the birds,” said Mr Stark.
“Pre-manufactured swift bricks are a brilliant way to give the birds a permanent , unobtrusive nest when there is new build or roof renovation, and they are inexpensive and long-lasting.”
Mr Stark is checking relevant planning applications going to Scarborough Council and asking builders and developers to consider incorporating swift bricks in their designs .
“Planning regulations allow for the suggestion that builders consider swift bricks,” he explained.
In a bid to help these birds the Scarborough branch of building merchants MKM is supplying their customers with information about inserting the bricks and has even offered to supply them at a very reasonable rate .
David Roberts, Scarborough MKM branch manager, said: “We are keen to help the swifts build their nests and hopefully increase the population .”
An informal Whitby swift group has been working with Scarborough and last monthan official Whitby group was launched with a talk and art display by swift expert Jonathan Pomroy.
Group member Wendy English said: “Swifts have been declining in Whitby but there are still strong populations in Robin Hood’s Bay, Fylingthorpe, Sleights, Hinderwell and several villages in the Esk Valley.”
In Pickering, swift enthusiasts Gill Devonshire and Alison Lawson managed to secure a £600 grant from Pickering Town Council to provide nest box materials which have been used by Richard Scullion and erected in Castlegate and Pickering Railway Station.
There is now a ist of people in Pickering waiting for boxes.
This summer members from all groups will be out surveying for nesting sites to help with their own work to find where to target nesting help and to provide data for the national picture of swift populations .It is also hoped to explore the possibility of finding grants to help with the cost of boxes and bricks .