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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/18/securing-their-swift-return-how-a-simple-brick-can-help-migratory-birds-aoe>
"Common swifts are in perilous decline in the UK. For 23 years the British
Trust for Ornithology has recorded a relentless, downward trajectory, with
numbers falling by 57% in 22 years. Insect decline is almost certainly a
factor, but so too is the loss of nesting sites. Buildings, once permeable to a
range of wildlife, from bats to bees, sparrows to swifts, are increasingly
closed off to the natural world.
Champions of the swift have sprung to the rescue around the country, installing
nest boxes on houses, schools, libraries and hospitals, and inside church
belfries. But replacing nest holes that have been blocked over a period of
decades requires a strategic approach.
This is where nest bricks come in. These are hollow, rectangular boxes made of
a breathable material called woodcrete or stonecrete – a mixture of concrete
and wood or stone. Integrating them into walls does not compromise insulation
and the only part visible from the exterior of the house is the small entry
hole."
Via Glyn Moody, who wrote "simple but effective idea; let’s do it"
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
