New buildings to feature bricks for nesting birds

Swifts, swallows and other migrant birds are under threat from habitat loss

Special bricks with sealed spaces for nesting birds are to be built in all new developments in a town as part of efforts to protect migratory species.

Bury Council has become the first authority in Greater Manchester to adopt the policy of integrating the so-called "swift bricks" into any new housing.

Local campaigners, who have long pushed for the move, described their inclusion as an "easy win for builders, birds and biodiversity".

It comes after wildlife charities have reported a decline in the populations of summer visiting birds in the UK, such as swifts and house martins, due to a loss of nesting sites.

Councillors backed the move following a campaign by a local bird rescue group

Swifts travel thousands of miles each summer after wintering in Africa, often returning to the same nests built within the exterior walls of houses.

Louise Bentley is from a local bird rescue group Bolton and Bury Swifts, which has pushed the council to adopt the mandatory inclusion of swift bricks in all new builds since 2016.

She said swifts were "very faithful" to their nest sites, meaning they will still try to access them, even if they have been blocked off by changes like a new roof or other work.

"Sometimes they’ll injure or even kill themselves by keep flying up and bashing against the closed off area," she said.

“It’s a very distressing thing to watch.”

The bricks make an ideal place for migratory birds to build nests

The policy of putting the nest bricks into new buildings was preferred by the council over the use of bird boxes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Each brick is a permanent feature and protected from vandalism with zero maintenance requirements, a recent council meeting heard.

Ms Bentley said the bricks are often placed near the eaves of a house and "aesthetically blend in.”

She added: “We’ve been pushing for this since 2016 so it’s great it’s finally happened.”