The Northern House Martin lives in the heart of our villages and towns, where it builds its nest of clay pellets on the outside of buildings. A skilled flight artist, it is a popular bird and a typical building breeder. For this reason, the Northern House Martin should actually benefit from the ongoing expansion of built-up areas – but its numbers are in fact declining. Today, its proximity to human residential areas is increasingly becoming fatal for the Northern House Martin, as tolerance towards nests on buildings is decreasing and there is often hardly any suitable nesting material available. For this reason, it needs our help!
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
Northern House Martin
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
A young House Martin in a natural nest is fed by a parent bird with insects, which are only caught in flight.
©
© Thomas Sattler
The House Martin is a social species and sometimes forms very large colonies. The largest colony in Switzerland is located in Ticino and comprises some 300 natural nests.
©
© Chiara Scandolara
As land sealing continues to increase, House Martins are often no longer able to find suitable places with nesting material. You can support natural nest building by creating artificial clay patches.
©
© Stephanie Michler
A House Martin naturally builds its nest from hundreds of clay pellets which it sticks individually onto the growing nest with its beak.
©
© Stephanie Michler
One popular promotion option for House Martins is the installation of artificial nests or simple support aids.
©
© Stephanie Michler
Artificial nests and droppings boards are a good combination. This can reduce soiling of the facade caused by droppings.
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
©
© Thomas Sattler
©
© Chiara Scandolara
©
© Stephanie Michler
©
© Stephanie Michler
©
© Stephanie Michler
Northern House Martin
A young House Martin in a natural nest is fed by a parent bird with insects, which are only caught in flight.
The House Martin is a social species and sometimes forms very large colonies. The largest colony in Switzerland is located in Ticino and comprises some 300 natural nests.
As land sealing continues to increase, House Martins are often no longer able to find suitable places with nesting material. You can support natural nest building by creating artificial clay patches.
A House Martin naturally builds its nest from hundreds of clay pellets which it sticks individually onto the growing nest with its beak.
One popular promotion option for House Martins is the installation of artificial nests or simple support aids.
Artificial nests and droppings boards are a good combination. This can reduce soiling of the facade caused by droppings.
Species promotion – Northern House Martin
Protection and promotion for a sociable insectivore
Domain
Conservation
Unit
Urban Habitat
Topics
Species Recovery, Birds and Human Beings
Habitat
settlements
Project start
2011
Project status
ongoing
Project management
Merline Roth
Project region
Switzerland
Employees
Species concerned
Unit
Urban Habitat
Numerous birds can be observed in built-up areas. Our Urban unit is committed to protecting and preserving their livelihoods. Our buildings provide nesting sites for endangered building breeders such as the Common Swift and the Western House Martin. Natural gardens with trees, wild hedges and flower meadows provide food and hiding places for numerous birds. For this reason, we attach great importance to providing advice on how to ensure built-up areas can be designed to be bird-friendly.
