Common swifts 2009

[mark smyth]

I'm still pushing swifts which should be amber or better still red listed this year.

To kick off this season, they are already on eggs in Israel and have recently arrived in Holland and Germany, I bring you an unbelievable link sent to me by Oron. For the second time ever mating swifts have been photographed
http://www.ynet.co.il/Ext/App/Gallery/CdaDisplayGallery_Popup/0,11063,L-9587-1-0,00.html

[mark smyth]

If you are thinking of creating a swift colony you could do what this man did in Holland

[mark smyth]

Or create a colony like this on the shores of Lough Neagh. The last photo shows the Lough Neagh fly

[mark smyth]

Or create a swift tower like this that is also located on the shores of Lough Neagh

[Maggi Young]

Extraordinary pictures from Israel, Mark.
In your last post, about these free-standing apartment blocks..... are these popular? I would have thoguht the swifts liked the protection and warmth that comes from backing on to a building?

[mark smyth]

Maggi this is the first time in Europe that a swift 'tower' has been made. Time will tell if it will work

And lastly from Germany if you like house martins but "not on my house" how about a house martin colony on a pole?
http://www.schwalbenschutz.de/Schwalbenhauser/Standorte_AGROFOR/standorte_agrofor.html

Could a German forum member try and find out how to get a brochure and or how much a tower costs?

[Paul T]

Very cool, Mark.  Those are some apartment complexes.  That last link you posted takes me to some sort of map in german, not to a house martin colony?

[mark smyth]

scroll down to the links. Unfortunately the photos aren't very big

[Maggi Young]

Try this : http://www.schwalbenschutz.de/Produktubersicht/produktubersicht.html

[mark smyth]

this years migration has come to a stand still due to the wind being in the wrong direction. Birds migrating in early april came with a good south wind but the wind over the last week or ten days has held the birds in Europe. The vast majority of European swifts are stuck in north Africa. Across the EU people are worried that the swifts havent appeared in large numbers.

In anticipation of a good season on my gable I have added another 4 nest boxes under the eaves of the house. I now have 14 nest boxes 

[mark smyth]

 ..... and just in from Germany

[Gerdk]

..... and just in from Germany

Mark,
I would be glad if you'll give a little bit more information about this tower.
I am very much interested in who built it and where it was erected.

Gerd

[mark smyth]

Gerd PM me your email address and I'll pass it to my friend in Germany

[mark smyth]

I'm sure it is only 2 or 3 meters square

[Alan B]

Interesting stuff about the migration delay.  I had read the thread a few days ago and have been keeping an eye open for arrivals here.  Only saw the first swifts today.  Have also been looking for sand martins but none so far in the usual places.  Strangely I saw the first swallow of the season on April 4th which is about 10-14 days earlier than usual.