As the SJF Eco Team's project to help the local swift population gathers pace, team members have decided to hold a vote about whether they would like to purchase a Swift Brick for our school using money raised previously. The company 'S Brick', recommended by the Sheffield Swift Network, create bricks that "integrates a home for Swifts and other cavity-nesting birds, without compromising the integrity or appearance of the building".
When asked whether we should use money raised previously for an S Brick, SJF Eco Team member Jack was very enthusiastic:
"We should definitely buy a brick with the money. If we save just one family of swifts, it will be worth it. Hopefully, it will inspire lots of our parents and friends to put a Swift Brick in their homes too."
For some background, Swifts are amazing creatures. They nest in eaves and cavities - unobtrusively - before beginning a life of flight without landing for many years. They return to their homes to lay eggs, but are increasingly finding that plastic soffits and gutters cover their homes. This has led to a rapid drop in numbers, with the numbers of birds, globally, threatened. One solution lies with the installation of 'Swift Bricks', or boxes.
For more information, please visit actionforswifts.com, and join our SJF Eco Team in their pledge to help the population of swifts in our community. Nesting season begins around May, and we are hoping to have both our donated Swift Box and - potentially - a new S Brick installed in time for this year's season.
A 'swift brick' is a special nest-box for these fast-flying birds which visit Britain in summer. They are carefully fitted into walls where you will barely notice them unless you look up. They can be colour-matched to the brickwork. The bricks are sturdy, weatherproof, enclosed, and will not reduce insulation or compromise a building in any way.
