WildCookham has launched a project to find out how well one of our favourite Summer birds is faring this year. Swallow numbers seem to be down yet again and they're looking for help in finding out whether this is true in Cookham. They are asking local residents to tell them about Swallow nests they have seen so that they build up a picture of Cookham's Swallow community.
It's possible that numbers are down due to bad weather conditions in the Mediterranean during the migration period in the Spring. But loss of local nesting sites is also a big issue: conversion of barns and outbuilding and improvements to houses are a major reason behind the decline. "Loss of habitat is a massive factor in the general, in some cases dramatic, reductions in bird populations", according to WildCookham's Mike Copland. "Most people want to see the birdlife around them but we're to blame for the reductions. We can all help by checking for nest sites before any building work is carried out or trees or hedges are removed".
You can tell WildCookham about Swallow nesting sites known to you in Cookham parish by posting details on their Facebook page and they'll collect the data from there or, even better, email
wildcookham@gmail.com.
They are interested in nests (not just bird sightings) so please tell them where you know of one (address and/or grid reference) plus any details of the number of young and whether they left the nest. Swallows are so much part of our summer: let's hope they keep on coming.
