House Martins Decline in Britain
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Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Jun 23, 2008 |
House Martins migrate north from equatorial Africa each spring to breed in Britain, but in 2008 it seems many of the birds didn’t return. It may be that bad weather in southern Europe killed House Martins en route, but the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is worried that people may also be destroying nests. To get a better picture of the problem, the BTO is asking everyone to learn to live with their House Martins, and to participate in a survey. Using the data collected when people report that they have nesting House Martins, scientists will create a House Martin Map, which will later be incorporated into the national Bird Atlas.
House Martins nest under eaves of houses, building nests out of mud and lining them with feathers. They will often use the same nest year after year, making only minor repairs, and sometimes many nests are built side by side creating a nesting colony. Pairs raise two broods of chicks in an average nesting season.
It is illegal to disturb a House Martin nest during the breeding season. Nonetheless, some homeowners object to the bird droppings and pieces of eggshell that accumulate under the nests and knock them down, heedless of growing chicks inside. The destruction of an unoccupied nest hurts the birds as well, as it will take 10 to 18 days to rebuild.
If you have House Martins nesting under your eaves, leave them alone! Visit the BTO website to learn how to enjoy your tenants, and participate in the survey.
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