Hi, We live near lichfield and are fortunate to have a colony of swifts that nest in our eaves every year. Our house is an old style with open eaves and when we moved in 15 yrs ago many other houses in the road were the same. Sadly alot have been "modernised" with plastic fascia boards so ours is one of the few left. We now have approx 7 regular nests around our house. one even nests in the air brick in the bathroom...we can just about see them when they are in their. We love them and apart from having to be careful not to open windows too wide...and getting used to the screaming when they arrive...its only for a couple of months and I miss them when they migrate as the house seems "alive" when they are here.
Our house is up for sale now as we have to move to be nearer family but I am really worried that the new owners may want to block up the eaves and not appreciate our summer guests. Apart from talking to them about this and hoping they will be swift friendly is their some sort of covenant I could put on the house so any changes are swift friendly?Has anyone had a similar situation?
We also have a wildlife pond and I am worried about the frogs being homeless if the pond is drained!
otherwise do any wildlife lovers want to buy our house!
Hello
Swifts are indeed fantatstic birds to have living in your house, they don't do any damage and are very clean birds, why anybody would want to prevent these amazing birds from living in the house baffles me.
However, if you are worried about this then speaking with the new occupants is a must, they may be wildlife lovers but if not maybe you can work your magic and convince them that swifts are to be respected, enjoyed and encouraged. If you have not already added your swifts to the RSPB swifts inventory then please do so here.
We also have advice here about what you can do to help swifts if you feel they are under threat and also it may be worth contacting Swift Conservation, a dedicated group of swift enthusiasts who do all they can to help this species.
As for the pond, maybe it would be worth seeking advice from Pond Conservation to see if they have any tips or materials that you could pass on to the new occupants.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Thank you I have already registered them. I will contact the conservation societies you have mentioned.
hopefully our new house will have swifts to. .. I will certainly encourage them. our daughter calls them "the fairies in the roof!"