New Forest Council preventing House martins from nesting

19/07/2011 17:42:21 July 2011. Although lots of people are helping swifts when they arrive in the UK for summer, sadly there are many who are making their lives harder, says the RSPB.

John Day, Urban Advisor for the wildlife charity says: "Many people have really taken these incredible birds to heart and lots of people are stepping up to do all they can to help them once they arrive in the skies above our towns and cities. But, imagine how you would feel if you came home from holiday to find your house boarded up, or worse; demolished? That is exactly what is happening to our swifts."

Wildlife Extra has been contacted by a resident of an estate who has complained to their local council, The New Forest Council, about the installation of anti bird spikes around some of the buildings on the New Milton Estate.

Debbie Podjacki says "The ventilation holes in the eaves of the flats have been open, as far as I am aware, since the flats were built, and Swifts have been nesting inside for at least the last 25 years. In spring the council fitted grilles over the holes, removed all the House Martin nests and stuck anti-pigeon spikes under the eaves, and sticking up along the edges. The holes are too small for pigeons to use and there is no ledge for them to land on anyway where the spikes have been fitted." 

Spikes placed to stop House martins nesting
"On speaking to Kevin Gould of the council I was told that the spikes had been fitted to stop the House martins nesting as major renovation works were planned and this would involve replacing the roofs of the flats, the work taking place during the nesting season."

"He also said that the grilles had been missing from 'some' of the holes for a while and they had just re-fitted these, and denied any knowledge of Swifts having nested there. This is not true - as I said there have never been grilles and in any case why re-fit grilles when all the roofs were about to be replaced? Also, I have now been told by the contractors that the roof work will not take place before next year, so the council have effectively denied the birds two seasons nesting - the Swifts will not return to this site if that is the case."

"I don't have any photos of the area prior to the spikes being fitted, but where the council missed a hole on the block there is a pair of Swifts nesting. Also, there are at least two House Martins nest, one of which has been built among the spikes. I have heard from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust that the council are now seriously considering removing the spikes. However, in light of the fact that the Swift breeding season is over and there are some House Martin nests on the eaves anyway, this seems a bit too little, too late."