This weekend a couple of volunteers from BBT did a survey of housemartins (Delichon urbicum) and swifts (Apus apus) in Mungia to see what the population is as both species are in decline in Europe, dramatically so in some parts. Being insectivores they have been seriously affected by the decline in insect populations but also habitat loss and a loss in possible nesting sites. Both these species are mainly urban species and whereas the housemartin makes its nest under the eaves of buildings, the swift takes advantage of holes in old buildings or under tiles. It would take a lot of time to do a more in-depth survey but in general the survey gives us an idea of the population in Mungia but unless it is carried out frequently it will not provide any meaningful results. The volunteers managed to locate four places where swifts are breeding and as for the housemartins we counted over 100 nests, 65 of which were definitely being used and another 39 which may or may not being used. Finally, we could observe 38 nests which were either broken, fallen or deliberately taken away by residents due to the noise or dirt that housemartins cause.
BBT believes that it is important for the town-hall to inform people that both the swift and housemartin are species whose pòpulations are declining and that it is necessary for people to respect their nests. As well as that, the town-hall should ensure that planning permission for new buildings and any restoration of older buildings should take into account the need to help these species. Finally, we would ask the town-hall to look at the possibility of financing any future survey work which looks at population trends in Mungia, as well as looking at other species present in the town. Preserving a town`s biodiversity should be something that every town should be interested in and should provide the economic means of doing so.
