This has been the best year yet for our Sand Martin bank.
One of our volunteers Brian D. keeps a close watch on their activity and his annual report shows how well they have done.
Arriving mid March there was lots of activity in the last week of that month, and this increased into May. Our Sand Martin bank has 100 nest holes and Brian records that 90 were occupied. If we assume that each nest rears on average 3 healthy young (from a clutch of 5 eggs) then we believe there were 270 fledglings in the first brood.
Again in mid June activity was high and 83 holes were being used - perhaps about 250 young being reared in the second brood.
For the first year the bottom row of holes have been used. Of the 30 holes 25 were used for the first brood and 21 for the second. These holes are near the water and may be damp so not so atractive to the birds but acceptable if all other holes are taken.
By mid August the activity started to fall and all interest in the holes had finished by mid September when we could inspect the bank. The average depth of the holes was 700mm and the width at the end from 130 to 180mm. The bottom holes were damp and the top dry with some having collapsed.
Over the last winter we replaced a lot of the sand and compacted it so collapsing the old tunnels. This may have helped to give a good site for new breeding tunnels to be dug free from over-wintering parasites.
Thanks to Brian for his assiduous observation and recording.
For those visitors who do not know the resrve the Sand Martin bank is visible from the visitor centre viewing window and the cafe.
Peter