‘Hafod yr Adar’ Bird Tower Project
We’re addressing native bird decline with help from the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust ‘Force for Nature’ Grant
We recently benefitted from the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust’s ‘Force for Nature’ grant, which helps support projects and communities who are driving positive change for biodiversity and conservation.
The grant helped to fund the aptly named Hafod yr Adar project. Hafod yr Adar translates to ‘the birds summer dwelling’, referring to the summer migratory and nesting habits of the target birds. The large purpose-built tower stands 6.5m high and aims to offer additional nesting opportunities for multiple bird and bat species, including the UK Red Listed swifts and house martins as well as the declining population of barn swallows.
These charismatic birds produce some of the most evocative sounds of the summer, but sadly some places have fallen silent in recent years. All three target bird species are declining in numbers, with the RSPB reporting that swifts experienced a 62% decline between 1995 and 2001.
Having lived alongside us for hundreds of years, using our homes for nest sites, they are now slowly being evicted. In a bid to improve our home efficiency, gaps and holes in walls are being sealed up. Of course this is a great way we can all help to tackle climate change, however it’s leaving no access for the birds. Barn swallows are also victims of evolution because of barn or garage conversions.
All three birds can be seen gliding effortlessly through the summer sky feeding on flying insects. They were once attracted to our shores because of the abundance of food, however a dramatic drop in insect life is highly likely to be contributing to the birds’ decline as they fail to feed their chicks. Folly Farm is also investing in the conversions of grassland into more diverse wildflower meadows to help insects.
“The tower is just one of the ways we are helping to address the nature emergency that we’re facing.
JACK – CONSERVATION OFFICER
It offers much needed nesting areas, and we aim to encourage more people to put up artificial boxes,
help insects and celebrate these charming birds.”
The tower was constructed by bird box specialist, Peak Boxes. Made from sustainable, heavy-duty plywood, each tower is made specifically with the birds in mind including a heat-reflective roof to avoid overheating. This high-tech tower is also fitted with a sound system, not for late night parties, but to attract the birds to the new nests. The birdcall system is powered with a mounted solar panel and controlled by a smartphone at ground level.
“We’re very grateful to the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust for the grant to enable the build of Hafod yr Adar, and we’re eagerly monitoring the tower to see if it attracts any feathered visitors this summer.
jack continued
