The so-called bank swallow wall in the LOFAR area between Buinen and Exloo is a success. That is what the Drentse Landschap Foundation says. With a recent count, the organization had at least 61 breeding pairs of bank swallows.
In March of this year, the organization placed the wall because there are few natural nest spaces for Oeverzwaluwen in the nature reserve. In addition, ties the nest spots robbed regularly.
“Shift swallows prefer to nest in steep sandy walls along rivers,” says Bertil Zoer of the Drenthe landscape. “They dig a hole and lay their eggs in it.”
It is precisely those steep banks that are rare. “Water boards maintain the banks so that the water can flow quickly, while the bank swallow needs a sandbank that runs style or is irregular,” says Zoer.
Such banks can only easily collapse, which disrupts the flow. That is why the Drenthe landscape offers a helping hand.
The wall that placed the Drenthe landscape is made of concrete. “The birds only have to go into the holes and dig further themselves. Moreover, the concrete ensures that the wall does not collapse, so that the rivers retain their current.”
The wall has 120 holes for shore swallows to nest in, but not all holes are occupied. Yet Zoer is satisfied. “It is already a success that more than half is filled. That shows that our approach works.”
Moreover, the wall does not only offer shelter on shore swallows. The birds have a special neighbor. “We also counted a kingfisher in the wall. Fantastic that we can also help it, because kingfishers sometimes have a hard time finding a suitable breeding ground. This is how we help two types at the same time,” concludes Zoer.