Birders will sometimes play recordings of bird songs or calls to entice secretive birds into the open. I’ve seen it work amazingly well with some birds. Other birders frown on the practice, considering it harassment, since you are essentially tricking the bird into thinking there is a mate or a competitor.
Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, went to the other extreme when It noticed that its population of swifts had been declining over the last 20 years. They erected an enormous Swift Tower with nesting places and audio that continuously plays swift calls. Swifts like to nest with other swifts, so they are hoping this will encourage nesting behavior.
I love the idea, but it definitely messed with my mind. I was walking along the Cardiff Bay when I heard dozens of swift calls. But it was a very rainy day, and I wasn’t seeing any swifts flying! It took me a moment to figure out what the deal was. The tower’s design was inspired by a swift in flight.
6 responses to “Swift Tower”
The Peruvian indigenous tribe, the Mashco Piro, have been in the news. In June, they were seen in the Madre de Dios region, where you were warned not to photograph them. They are currently being seen at Las Piedras River. There have been approximately 50 seen at a time, all males. They are foraging for turtle eggs and food and also believed to be moving away from logging operations. Found it even more interesting after your group was cautioned.
I saw that! It doesn’t bode well for their survival.
Interesting
Indeed. (Hi Beverly – I’m starting a new process – I”m going to try to match your one-word comments, with one-word replies of my own! 🙂 🙂
Hope it proves to be a successful venture!
Me too. I was going to research it later, to see if any word on how successful it was.