Swifts numbers have declined across the UK by 53% between 1995 and 2016.
“By incorporating a Swift Brick in all new houses we can save these beautiful birds.”
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The Sid Valley Biodiversity Group is setting up surveys – and recording what is sighted:
Sid Valley Biodiversity Group: projects on the radio – Vision Group for Sidmouth
A good place to go to see others’ recordings of wildlife is the Wildlife in Devon website:
There do seem to be fewer swifts in the skies above Sidmouth this year – although over Dartmoor, things are looking good:
Cancelled: Swifts on Dartmoor – A Screaming Success (E Devon Branch) – The Devonshire Association
There is a campaign to get swift boxes built into new homes – and this time last year, signatures had reached 128,000:
The figure has now reached almost 200,000:
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Save our Swifts
To: Robert Jenrick – Housing Minister, Theresa Villiers – Environment Secretary, Kevin Stewart MSP – Scottish Housing Minister & Julie James AM – Welsh Housing Minister
Campaign created by Norman Pasley
Legislate that all UK house builders shall install Swift bricks in all new-build homes, and give incentives for retrofitting nest boxes on older properties.
Why is this important?
Swifts numbers have declined across the UK by 53% between 1995 and 2016. By incorporating a Swift brick in all new houses we can save these beautiful birds.
On fine summer evenings Swifts gather in “low flying screaming parties” as they chase each other around the buildings where they nest.
Because they rely on eating insects, Swifts can only live in the UK for a short period in summer when insects are plentiful. Swifts migrate south to Africa in August and return to us in the following May.
Let’s make sure we continue to have Swifts every summer.
Photo: Action for Swifts – Model S swift box