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House martin artificial nests scheme set to expand
A Hampshire conservation project plans to install up to 900 artificial nests for house martins, a threatened bird whose UK population has fallen sharply. The free nest cups are intended to save the birds time and energy, while giving them safer places to raise their young.
The UK house martin population fell by 40% between 1995 and 2024, with declines linked to fewer insects, hotter and drier weather reducing available nesting mud, and modern building features that make nests harder to attach. In a pilot, 249 cups were fitted near known nesting sites and 27 were used this summer. Homes, schools and businesses can apply if they are within 1km of a recorded nest and have suitable eaves 4 to 7 metres above ground.
In short
- Hampshire plans up to 900 free house martin nest cups.
- 27 of 249 pilot nests were used this summer.
- The UK population fell 40% between 1995 and 2024.
Explained simply
House martins are migratory birds that return to the UK in spring to breed, building mud nests beneath the eaves of buildings. Their numbers have fallen sharply: the UK population dropped by 40% between 1995 and 2024.
Fewer insects, dry weather that limits the mud available for building nests, and modern buildings with less suitable places to attach them are among the reasons for the decline. Artificial nest cups provide ready-made places for the birds to raise their young, potentially saving them time and energy.
The Hampshire project is open to homes, schools and businesses near known nesting sites, provided their buildings have suitable eaves. Its pilot saw 27 of 249 installed cups used this summer, offering a measure of how the approach is working locally.