Threat to nesting swifts!

[Emma S]

I work at a hospital in Burnley, Lancashire, and the hospital has plans to pull down several buildings which host a significant nesting swift colony.

I am concerned that the new build planned for the site (still hospital buildings) will not be built with the nesting swifts in mind.....would they need to have 'swift bricks' or something? Would the general building work - say, if it was being done when the swifts were due to return - bring the colony to an end? What would the swifts do if they arrive from migration and find their usual nesting sites gone or the site a building site?

I'm really quite concerned about them. I have tried contacting the relevant department in the hospital to find out about the building plans to no avail so far.

Does anyone know of any wildlife or bird organisations in the East Lancashire or Burnley area who might be interested in helping me look into this and possibly attempt to protect the interests of this swift colony?

Any advice is gratefully received, thanks

Emma

[solus]

The RSPB has a campaign running concerning Swifts, see:
The RSPB: Help us help swifts: Are your swifts under threat?

There is some useful information and downloads there. Hope this helps.

[Gill Catton]

If I were you, I'd write to the county ecologist who is likely to be dealing with any planning application. I would express all of your concerns, refer to the RSPB article and use phrases like 'resulting loss of biodiversity' to help catch their attention.

There are indeed things that can be done for swifts, its not too difficult too build in features into the roof or eaves for nesting swifts (though sometimes harder to persuade them to use them - apparently playing the callls of swifts from new nest sites can help - though I suspect eventually swifts would find the sites by themselves).

It is easily possible that any development has already had an Environmental assessment done and there may already be provisions for the swifts in place, but there might not be, so its worth highlighting the issue I think.

[Emma S]

Many thanks for the useful replies....this gives me a good starting point.