main content New homes needed for house martins

Bromley residents and bird watchers are being urged to watch out for the charismatic house martin this summer as part of Bromley Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan, promoting positive action for wildlife across the borough.

House martins are easily recognisable as they build their nests on buildings, usually in colonies and their nests are made entirely from mud. The birds themselves are about the size of a house sparrow and have white, black and blue feathers with a forked tail. They come from the same family as swallows and sand martins.

House martins have been slowly disappearing from the London area and Bromley Countryside and Parks Service is keen to hear from anyone who may have a house martin colony on their house or has had one in the last five years.

Countryside and Parks Ranger Nick Hopkins said: " House martins are fantastic little birds and visit the UK for the summer, returning to Africa where they can spend winter in the warm. We would like residents to let us know where these house martin colonies are in Bromley and how many nests are being used.

“There is a concern that lack of nest sites may be one reason for the house martin’s decline in London, so next summer we hope to install 50 nest boxes across the borough to encourage more birds to breed. We’re asking Bromley residents to contact us if they would like to take part in this scheme. We also hope that people will help us monitor the use of the new nest boxes.”

To let the Countryside and Parks Service know about house martins in the borough, or to request a nesting box, please contact Nick Hopkins on 01689 862815 or email countrysideandparks@bromley.gov.uk

ENDS

Note to editors:

For further information contact Nick Hopkins, Countryside and Parks Ranger
Tel: 01689 862815 or email nick.hopkins@bromley.gov.uk