8
HELP THE SWIFTS
Most naturalists will know the fast flying black sickle shaped wings of swifts in flight,
where they spend most of their lives, reputedly only coming out of the air to raise young.
Because of the scarcity of their normal cave and cliff nest sites in Britain, they depend
mainly on man-made structures, such as churches and other buildings. Nests are typically
under eaves, in ventilators and other cavities, at least 5 metres above ground, with a drop
to allow the bird to gather speed as it leaves the nest site.
Nowadays eaves are usually sealed off, reducing the availability of such sites for the
swifts. Building regulations require adequate ventilation to prevent condensation in the
roof space and the gaps are usually covered with mesh, or a patent ventilator. These can
easily be adapted to permit access by swifts. A gap of 35mm X 65mm every one to two
metres will suffice. The nest holes are too small to be used by pigeons or starlings and
sparrows prefer nests at lower levels.
Nest boxes have an important part to play where sites have been lost and swifts may find
them encouraging in colonising new buildings. Boxes can be placed in puipose built
holes, or mounted under the eaves or on gable ends. An RSPB leaflet is available free.
Only one one manufactured nest box is presently available, from Jacobi Jayne, Hawthorn
Cottage, Maypole Heath, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4LW, who can supply cost and size
details.
This note has been gleaned from Urban Wildlife News Vol. 14 No.l, published by
English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UA.
LONDON'S BIODIVERSITY
The following has been taken from the same source. As a substantial part of Essex
overlaps with London to the east of the River Lea so it was felt it would be of interest.
Last autumn the London Biodiversity Partnership came into being, when "Capital Assets:
Conserving Biodiversity in London" was launched. James Clappison, then a Junior
Minister at the Department of the Environment, expressed whole-hearted support.
London's first Biodiversity Action Plan should be produced by 2000AD and will:
1. Give better co-ordination of nature conservation actions.
2. Address data needs for targeted biological recording and monitoring.
3. Promote better awareness and understanding of biodiversity conservation.
4. Produce costed action plans to conserve prioity habitats and species.
Establishing a wide-ranging partnership is felt to be essential, in order that a broad range
of interests may be brought together.
Professor David Goode, Partnership Chairman, said "By producing an action plan for
biodiversity, London is giving a lead to other great cities - not only in making its own
particular contribution to conservation of global biodiversity but also in showing nature to
be a vital ingredient in the quality of life of city dwellers."
Copies of the prospectus and further information from: The London Biodiversity
Partnership, FREEPOST, London, NI 9BR
Ken Hill
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 22, August 1997