Swift Bricks

[Odds]

or bricks for Swifts: specifically, a specially designed brick to put in place when building a new home.
Sign the petition to Save Our Swifts and if you live in an old home without a modified brick, fret not! there's a way to retrofit a swift brick that's inexpensive and easy enough.

Designed to slot into the wall without compromising the existing structure.

Why wouldn't you?

 

[blup]

They build nests with mud, so why would this appeal?

 

[pcaouolte]

Why wouldn't you?

Because they crap as they leave the nest.

 

[ajrtd]

Very few swifts here this year.

 

[JBR]

I'd be very happy to do that but, as AJS says, we don't have swifts around here. I do, however, put bird food into a hanging basket every day:
wood pigeons, robins, magpies, blackbirds, etc.

 

[Odds]

Providing every new home with at least one “swift brick” to help endangered cavity-nesting birds has been rejected by Labour at the committee stage of its increasingly controversial planning bill. Despite the Labour party having supported the swift brick amendment when it was tabled on Conservative government legislation in 2023, housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, told the House of Commons committee: “We are not convinced that legislating to mandate the use of specific wildlife features is the right approach, whether that is done through building regulations or a freestanding legal requirement.”

A new petition calling for swift bricks to be made mandatory for new homes has rapidly reached 80,000 signatures in recent days, two years after activist Hannah Bourne-Taylor won a parliamentary debate to help the rapidly declining migratory birds after 109,896 voters signed a government petition. Bourne-Taylor said there appeared to be “no logic” to the government’s opposition to swift bricks when they precisely meet its ambition of creating win-wins for the economy and nature.

the Guardian

 

[Odds]

They build nests with mud, so why would this appeal?

Apparently, 75% of bricks installed in new houses failed to entice any birds or bats into their new homes; so it seems to be one of those ideas that sound good during a lunch meeting with too much wine. The Swift population has declined by 60% over the last thirty years and this was something to try and prevent them dying out altogether. It's a shame. I used to see plenty around here during the 70s, and a family of House Martins could always be seen at a particular location near town but i think too much traffic has contributed to their decline.

The new planning bill is cutting all of the environmental pledges made by Labour in opposition as it looks to cut costs for new builds and raise taxes for councils to build them. the Guardian

 

[Odds]

Keep the faith.

 

[Odds]

I'd be very happy to do that but, as AJS says, we don't have swifts around here. I do, however, put bird food into a hanging basket every day:
wood pigeons, robins, magpies, blackbirds, etc.

If you entice magpies into the feed zone then they'll find a way to supplement their diet in blackbird nests.

 

[blup]

Apparently, 75% of bricks installed in new houses failed to entice any birds or bats into their new homes; so it seems to be one of those ideas that sound good during a lunch meeting with too much wine. The Swift population has declined by 60% over the last thirty years and this was something to try and prevent them dying out altogether. It's a shame. I used to see plenty around here during the 70s, and a family of House Martins could always be seen at a particular location near town but i think too much traffic has contributed to their decline.

The new planning bill is cutting all of the environmental pledges made by Labour in opposition as it looks to cut costs for new builds and raise taxes for councils to build them. the Guardian

Who wants birds in their home,it’s a bats idea. Plant some trees, firestorm is good for autumn food, or put out feeders. Farmers have loads of underused buildings, pay them to house the swifts and bats.

 

[Odds]

Well, they're not 'in their home', more like an extension lodging. Some folk put bird boxes out in the garden so i don't see much difference.

 

[evdama]

A well intentioned idea
But beware.
Any hole above 4.5 mm in size is likely to provide an entrance for bee swarms or wasps.
The former can be difficult to remove alive or just expensive to destroy once within the fabric of the building.
Eaves cavity walls soffits and chimneys are all favorites.
Late April to early June is peak swarm season for honeybees.

 

[JBR]

If you entice magpies into the feed zone then they'll find a way to supplement their diet in blackbird nests.

Perhaps so. On the other hand, I have had both magpies and blackbirds visiting for a year or two, so it could be that the magpies are happily feeding on what I offer them and find that easier than raiding the nests of blackbirds. I hope so, anyway.