Island Life June July 2015 June July 2015 | Page 58

COUNTRY LIFE

Countryside news
with Tony Ridd

Making space for nature - Swifts

I

f you’re lucky, you’ll have already spotted one of the Island’s most iconic
birds overhead as spring unfurls… the swifts are returning to nest!
UK populations of swifts have declined at an alarming rate, in part the
result of the dwindling supply of accidental nooks and crannies in and
around roofs. Modern houses are just too well-sealed and older properties
become renovated - great for energy efficiency, but disastrous for wildlife.
However, a new Island development has shown how it’s possible to reverse
this trend. Island ecologists Arc have long been working to monitor
swifts on the Island, so when asked to help design a ‘wildlife encounter’
at Spectrum Housing’s new Freshwater Fields, they were keen to flag
up the plight of these birds. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the team at
Spectrum and volunteer support from the RSPB, 50 swift nestboxes were
built into the brickwork of the new properties, creating a whole new and
safe habitat. And of course this means that the first signs of interest from
birds returning from their long migration in May will be quickly spotted by
keen-eyed residents who in turn will become a vital part of the project’s
future. For more information on swifts and how you can help, visit www.
swift-conservation.org/

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What to look out for...

Glow Worms

Swallow Chicks

Not a worm, but a beetle! Only
the females glow to any great
degree. June is the best time
to spot them. The wingless
females glow to attract a
mate. They do this by mixing
a chemical with oxygen in
their stomachs to produce a
distinctive bright green glow.
The adults have no mouths with
which to feed and thus have a
very short life.

With both adults having built
the nest together, the female will
incubate the eggs by herself.
But when born the young are
fed by both parents, catching
insects, flies such as blue and
green bottles being among their
favourites. After about three
weeks they will leave the nest
and once fledge, the youngsters
will receive in-flight food from
their parents.

Sainfoin

Devils-bit Scabious

Although rather exotic looking,
it is native to our shores and
depending on the location it
will grow from 20-100cm (8-40
inches) tall. Often found growing
in clumps on chalk grassland,
banks and disturbed ground. In
the 17th Century it was valued as
a fodder crop and today is often
found in wild flower seed mixes.

The first part of the name is
derives from the short thick
rhizome that has an abruptly
cut-off end, said to have been
bitten off by the devil himself!
The ‘Scabious’, from the former
use of this (and related plants)
as a herbal cure for scabies
and other unpleasant skin
complaints. Look for it on damp
grasslands.