Urban Ecology- A Survey Report on the Potential for Nesting Sites of Apus apus in Newquay Cornwall

1.Introduction

1.1.The Common Swift Apus apus

The Common Swift (Apus apus) is a bird belonging to the Apodidae Family of which seven species will occasionally visit the British Isles, however only A. apus is noted as a regularly occurring migrant to the UK, (BTO, 2015). The species has an almost religious group of followers within the UK and Europe, it is suggested that the birds striking appearance, unique calls and elusiveness have generated such passions. A. apus is a physically striking bird, other than a small patch of white on the birds chin the Common Swift is all black/brown and stands out against the summer sky it imposes itself upon (figure 1). The silhouette of this bird was explained by Thomas, (1917) “As if the bow had flown off with the arrow.” Making direct reference to the fine cut edges of the bird, with a body length of 16-17cm and wingspan of 42-48cm this image is easy to imagine, this physical morphology however possesses a much more practical use (Thompson, 2006). A. apus is the fastest bird recorded at level flight, reaching 111.6km/h during social screaming parties when nesting and mating (Bourton, 2010). This speed and flying efficiency comes into context when the birds flight paths are analysed, not only does the bird seasonally migrate from central Africa to Northern Europe, but the long-distance daily flight of A. apus is shocking. Edward Max Nicholson suggests that an individual can average 800km per day, it is apparently common for an English A. apus to fly clockwise around a low pressure system, in which insects cannot be hunted, and be found in Germany on that same day, (Lockley, 1969). Coupled with this is the A. apus chick’s ability to enter a torpid state, the parent bird may be away from the nest for prolonged amounts of time and even roosts on the wing, in adaption to this the chick can shut down its body for up to 48 hours (Cocker and Mabey, 2005). These characteristics have lead to the Common Swift being loved, but also being labelled as an elusive and secretive bird as A. apus can prove hard to locate with sighting often unreliable.

1.3.2 Newquay’s Apus apus population

Previous recordings of A. apus in Newquay and the Southwest have outlined clearly the general locations of screaming parties and nesting sites, (Figures 3, 4).

Figure 1: the appearance of a A. apus as they are most often seen, in flight. (RSPB 2015)

1.2.Threats to Apus apus

A. apus was the subject for one of the earliest works in UK ecology, Gilbert White studied his swifts in Selborne and wrote his article in 1778 on their nesting populations (Begon, et. Al., 2006) which along with may more historical works has given an extensive record on the population dynamics of A. apus in the UK and Europe. The particular importance of White’s Swifts is because they have been revisited, Lawton and May (1984) returned to the documented nesting sites to find that A. apus had been absent from the previous sites for over 50 years due to habitat access prevention or destruction. Although one study may not appear to show any large-scale change, many more works have shown the decline of A. apus observations across Europe and a 30% decline in the UK (Noble, 2001) Figure 2. Works by Ambrosini, et.al, (2011) in Italy and by Woods, et. al, (2003) in Great Britain, suggest a number of factors disrupting A. apus, breeding populations with nest destruction or removal being a common threat in discussion. The difficulty in measuring populations of a bird that passes so many countries, including countries of less economic development, political un-rest and little in the way of bird conservation is great (BTO, 2010). Instead across the UK it is widely accepted by conservationists that such a creature of habit (meaning the bird returns to its same nest annually) should have its reproductive habitat protected in order to both monitor population and to conserve accurately.

Figure 2: The clear population decline of Breeding A. apus in the UK. (actionforswifts, 2012).

Under the current Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (legislation.gov, 2015) it is illegal to damage or destroy a nest that is in use or being constructed. However the current governments plant to change this law (Natural England, 2014) may lead to the willing destruction of these nests during breeding seasons and potentially the greatest threat to A. apus breeding livelihood in their so frequently urban habitats. In this case it is made clear that development and renovations of A. apus nest sites (which often occur in housing with well worn components) can be viewed as a large, and potentially the biggest, threat to A. apus.

1.3 Apus apus nesting sites

1.3.1 Urban Nesting of Apus apus

The tendency for A. apus to nest in urban areas can be linked to its popularity and extensive research, the ability for the bird to fly above urban pollution, cover vast distances and to nest within small gaps and openings in houses has resulted in A. apus becoming a populated bird in areas where other birds may not sustain. Central London for example still holds A. apus populations despite no longer hosting Swallows (Hirundo rustica).

A. apus usually inhibit nesting sites as sociable colonies of up to 30-40 pairs where possible, it is also common for the birds to nest around other house dwelling species such as the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and House sparrow (Passer domesticus) (Wotton, et.al, 2002). Apus, meaning “footless” in Latin, refers to A. apus’ small and un-useful legs, for this reason the bird will frequently choose a nesting site with at least a 5m drop in order to gain momentum for flight. The male A. apus uses its nest quality as a mechanism for attracting a mate at roughly four years old, Johnson, (1992), this can result in A. apus occasionally fighting to sustain the nest in which they will aim to keep for life, it is a common consensus that an A. apus nest would not naturally be destroyed.

1.3.2 Newquay’s Apus apus population

Previous recordings of A. apus in Newquay and the Southwest have outlined clearly the general locations of screaming parties and nesting sites, (Figures 3, 4).

Figure 3: A map of recorded A. apus action in Newquay, suggesting two major groups of swifts (represented by screaming parties). Note that the parties coincide with areas of intense housing.

(RSPB, 2011)

Figure 4: Further evidence from a differing source of A. apus inhibiting the area within Newquay surrounding Sainsbury’s supermarket and the town Cinema. Luke-Newquay orchard (2015).

Despite interests and work into North Cornwall and Newquay’s Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) population (see appendices), A. apus in Newquay has no published work or population reports to date. Figure 3 is the only official indication of swifts in Newquay and therefore is the strongest indication of where these organisms may be located. Cornwall wildlife trust is promoting the conservation of swifts and has published this online, encouraging local efforts to prevent their habitat destruction (cornwallwildlifetrust, 2015). With Newquay seen as a developing town and from local knowledge “plenty of building occurring”, there could however be a threat to A. apus’ habitat potential in the town alongside local businesses specialising in the removal of nesting bird sites (aswiftsweepnewquay, 2015).

Judged on Newquay’s building composition, recent studies on A. apus nesting in Newquay and the tendency of A. apus in nest selection. There is a Hypothesis- that nesting sites for A. apus or similarly house nesting birds, will be more common in property with spacing and worn construction components holding a >5m drop from the entry point, opposed to newer builds or renovations with little spacing or entry opportunity. The Null Hypothesis is- there will be no difference in the abundance of nesting A. apus or similarly house nesting species between property with spacing and worn construction components holding a >5m drop from the entry point, opposed to newer builds or renovations with little spacing or entry opportunity.

2.Method

For the survey conducted on 04/05/15, in order to test the hypothesis proposed a systematic point-line transect was carried out using roads to determine the route taken (Figure 4). See appendices for the full method of survey technique

Figure 5: A visual representation of the transect carried out with all the stopping points.

Along with locating A. apus sites, the survey involved designation of scores for each house surveyed and notes taken on nests of other bird species. The reasoning for this was to ensure that the best possible review was taken of potential nesting sites for mid to late arrivals of A. apus. Please view the appendices in order to see how buildings were judged and which species of bird were prioritised.

3.Results

No A. apus were sighted during the single survey conducted on 04/05/15, however the survey was still successful in determining building potential for nests and recognising other species using urban habitat space for nesting in Newquay.

Figure 6: the classifications given to buildings across the transect. Note the abundance of traditional builds. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7a: Alma place, the start point of the survey, continuing on to Fore street. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7b: the lower and mid section of the fore street transect. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7c: The ending of Fore street as the transect turned into Tower road. (Digimap, 2015

Figure 7d: The middle of tower road and the upper section of hope terrace. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7e: Tower road splits the transect into Fern-hill road and Hope terrace. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7f: Manor road, leading down into the central square, less housing occurs in this area with the cinema and many businesses occupying property. (Digimap, 2015)

Figure 7g: cental square, heavily used by people during days and evenings.

(Digimap, 2015)

Figure 8: The classification of potential for swift nesting in the buildings surveyed on each section of this transect, classification was given using the guidelines of Table 1. The numbering of

transects refers to significant changes in route taken (road surveyed on).

Figure 9: the signs of bird species through the transect, each marker represents a nesting site where birds were viewed entering the nests during the five minute points. (Digimap, 2015)

The results displayed above show an abundance of traditional housing in this section of Newquay (Figures 6 and 8), the houses classed with level 3 potential were often located in dense areas of terrace housing with strong channelized narrow roads. Figures 7a and 7c show nest potential in areas supposedly undocumented (figure 4), figure 7e however confirms along with previous data collected that Fern-hill offers itself with strong potential for A. apus, will many buildings displaying level 3 potential in close proximity, this is shown in figure 8 as the area featuring the highest number of level 3 buildings.

In correlation with the building potential findings it the abundance of other key urban bird species. The Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) were noted to occupy areas that seemed to offer themselves as A. apus sites. While the swallow (Hirundo rustica) was abundant in the skies during the survey it was only located entering only one nest site. Please refer to the appendices to view photography.

4.Discussion

4.1.Limitations of the survey

There are a few aspects of the survey that have lead to the hypothesis not being either accepted or rejected, the absence of A. apus being the driving force of this point. The main limitation would be the number of surveys conducted, although the composition and state of buildings is likely to remain constant throughout a number of surveys the test was to survey A. apus as a priority species. Undertaking one survey at the very beginning of their arrival stage in the UK was not the opportune way to analyse this species. Having limited information on A. apus sites in Newquay with only figures 3 and 4 to suggest sites, also resulted in the survey being less likely to focus on specific nesting examples of A. apus. Instead a point survey was conducted in order to map for locations with high potential. However point counts in themselves come with flaws such as bias and multiple counting of individuals, Sutherland (2006) outlines these issues well. The survey was used foremost in effectively and accurately assessing the state of houses in this section of Newquay and the areas most important from conservation perspectives for breeding birds.

4.2.Use of additional nesting species

The findings from looking into other species of bird in figure 9 may have produced useful results. S. vulgaris in particular has been recorded to take a very similar habitat to A. apus and they therefore compete for habitat spacing, as shown by Sandell and Smith, (1997). It can be assumed then that the social qualities of A. apus (Lack, 1958) will draw the species to areas of abundance in habitats occurring in close proximity, this is opposed to the occasionally competitive intra-specific nature of S. vulgaris. Due to this prediction is it expected that areas such as Fern-hill along with the northerly section of Tower road and Fore street (figure 7 b, c, e) would provide the best potential for A. apus nests due to sufficient space for the elaborate screaming parties described by Dokter, et. Al, (2013) and enough potential offered from the buildings and situation of the area (Brambilla, et. Al, 2006). This prediction was confirmed in a casual re-visit to this area where A. apus screaming parties were viewed (please refer to appendices to view these findings). P. domesticus certainly has less association in previous scientific study with A. apus, Weisheit and Creighton, (1989) however outline the often violent characteristics of P. domsticus towards competing nests. For A. apus, which occupies a similar urban nesting site and only produces clutch sizes of two or three, this could potentially be a threat driving the bird away from P. domesicus habitats. Other species were not found to populate enough areas at high enough numbers to justify any true interaction with A. apus, interestingly displayed in figures 7f and 9 was a succession of buildings which held good A. apus potential and signs of nesting material, but no birds of any other species were present. Simon et.al,(2007) outlines the territorial urban behavior of nesting birds an focuses on A. apus’ grouping tendencies coupled with territorial aggression, it could therefore be predicted that swifts are using this site, this prediction however needs further research.

4.3.The conservation value of Newquay’s buildings

There is clear-cut value of buildings as nesting sites in Newquay; the results have shown it is frequently buildings with structural imperfections that hold the greatest potential. These findings put A. apus nests at risk from building development and renovations which is a common risk outlined by Schaub, et.al, (2015). With no national legislation seeming to protect this declining species many localized interest driven groups have began to push conservation and alternatives to house nesting such as boxes, (swift-conservation.org, 2015). The potential for Newquay to protect its A. apus population is apparent, raising local awareness may be they key to this with wildlife trusts, bird conservation groups and most importantly property owners, potentially holding the future of these birds in their hands.

5.Conclusion

In analysis it is clear that Newquay holds strong potential for A. apus to nest and breed during its summer migration. However the future of this potential is where the true question lies, Newquay has the opportunity to protect A. apus for years to come and to maintain its populations, the key is in recognition of the importance of these sites and an incentive for property owners to protect nesting birds. The pleasure of hosting birds is sadly not enough for many who lack interest; this coupled with the current plans to change legislation seems to produce growing threats to breeding birds. In this situation the community response to A. apus conservation will most likely have the biggest weight in the future of these fascinating and unique birds.

Appendicies

The point transect conducted was aimed to include a range of houses to measure which streets and properties possessed the best potential for A. apus to nest in. The survey area was chosen in order to suit previous A. apus data from Newquay (see figure 3), the transect started at Alma Place and continued on the road routes mapped in figure 4. Point were taken when it was viewed that a change had occurred in either the road or the construction of the houses e.g. a pathway interrupting the row of buildings or a clear change in building use or year of construction. Each point was allocated five minuets of survey time in order to class surrounding houses and increase yet standardise the chance of viewing birds returning to their nests.

The survey was conducted between the times of 5pm-8pm, this time has been widely recognised as the best time to view the first A. apus as they return to their nests in the evening (APUSlife, 2000). The time of year in which the survey was conducted is not ideal due to the constraints of the academic year, despite the lessened chance of actually viewing A. apus this survey still holds great use and efficiency for logging potential for nests.

The classification of houses was standardised by the survey recorder classing each house (Table 1). Derelict buildings- classified as buildings that are clearly not in use and have suffered considerable degrading to structure. Traditional buildings- any building seen to be pre-war in their construction, can be well maintained or show signs of degrade, but no serious renovations can be present. Modern builds- these constructions were classified as being built roughly in the last 40 years, show newer building techniques and potentially encompassing bird proofing into their construction. Developments- constructions used for purposes on a greater scale than housing, quite often large and practically built rather than aesthetically. Renovations- are building which have clearly had further construction work done in order to correct structural of aesthetic issues, these houses will often be noticeable due to not fitting the general trend of the group.

A. apus screaming party 10/05/15.

In order to test the predictions of the results and discussion a clear evening was chosen to attempt to view screaming parties, four net entries were viewed along Fern-hill and Sydney road.

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