Lyndon has a long running monitoring project in OC Boerenpoort in Melsele, with support from the town counsel. These boxes were getting rather old, with about 25 years on the clock. The town counsel therefore supported the replacement of the boxes with a new set.
A couple of days in the wood shop delivered brand new boxes, which were installed today, just in time for the spring arrival of the swifts. We wish all new residents a happy new home!
Why nest boxes?
Swifts find less and less nesting spaces as today’s building standards leave very few cracks for these birds to nest in. Despite boxes helping out in the swift housing crisis other factors, such as climate change and falling insect numbers, influence the declining population.
This setup in particular provides a way to house swifts, but also monitor their behaviour through ringing and logging of their movements. If you want to read more about Lyndon’s work check out the movement ecology projects.
