Swift boxes helping to reverse declining numbers in Salisbury
The City Council's got nesting boxes on a number of their buildings
Swift boxes across Salisbury are thought to be helping boost numbers of the birds in the city.
They've been put up on a number of City Council buildings - like the Bemerton Heath Centre, Devizes Road Cemetery Lodge and at Hudson's Field.
The Salisbury and Wilton Swifts group has been helping the authority with the effort.
Action's been taken as UK breeding numbers of swifts fell by 58% between 1995 and 2021.
That's being put down to building renovations, demolitions and roof repairs disturbing nesting areas, which tend to be under roofs and in walls.
Environmental Services Manager, Marc Read said:
“Thank you Salisbury and Wilton Swifts for working with us to help increase biodiversity in our City. We are lucky to have a number of Swifts visit Salisbury so it is important that we do all we can to reverse the decline."
The City Council say they're also looking into other buildings that can have boxes installed.
Daniel Kronenberg, coordinator of Salisbury and Wilton Swifts |newtab), said:
“Our group has really welcomed Salisbury City Council’s commitment to helping conserve swifts in Salisbury. This iconic species is still in serious decline and last December was placed on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. We hope that our work with the council will go towards stabilising, or even reversing, the downward trend.”