Sand Martins events week takes flight
The Tyne’s newly nesting sand martins are welcomed by their week-long celebration. Tony Henderson reports
A week of events will celebrate the latest addition to a valley’s wildlife population.
Sand Martin Week from June 12–16 will mark the arrival of the migratory birds from their African wintering grounds to nest in the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle.
Last year, nine pairs of the birds used crevices in sandstone walls near the Free Trade Inn to raise their broods.
The birds became a big attraction for residents, workers and visitors to the Ouseburn and Newcastle Quayside, and that prompted local community interest nature body, Wild Intrigue to launch a crowdfunding appeal to build an artificial 48-chamber sand martin nesting bank, on a private, fenced area opposite Malmo Quay and the Tyne Bar.
The appeal swiftly exceeded its £6,000 target, while Northumbrian Water provided the site for the venture.
It is hoped that the development of a sand martin nesting concentration will complement the internationally important kittiwake breeding colony on the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.
“Last year the birds delighted visitors and residents along the Quayside and Ouseburn who watched their captivating flights and family moments from the footpath,” said Wild Intrigue co-director Cain Scrimgeour.
Fellow co-director Heather Devey said: “The level of support has been incredible and we can’t believe how quickly we reached the original target.
“Now Sand Martin Week is an opportunity for people to learn about these migratory marvels, and it has been made possible and free thanks to overwhelming support through the Ouseburn Sand Martin crowdfund.”
The week will include a sand martins exhibition from June 12–16 at the BottleWorks pop-up space on Riverside Walk in the Ouseburn, open daily 10am–5pm.
“We think these birds deserve a week all about them, so we hope people will come along to the BottleWorks to find out about the ecology, fascinating nesting behaviours, mind-blowing migration, and other intriguing insights into the sand martins,” said Heather.
To learn more about the birds, Wild Intrigue introduced a sand martin survey last year, with watchers monitoring the birds from spring through summer.
The upcoming week of activity will feature two survey sessions, with regular check-ins until the birds head back to Africa in August.
On June 12 at 6:30pm, there will be a talk by Richard Barnes from the Northumbria Ringing Group as he shares the importance of bird ringing, the stories behind the data, and how this hands-on science helps protect bird populations.
June 15 at 1pm will see a Plants for Birds event, which will show what can be planted to feed and shelter birds. The following day from 6.30pm onwards, there will be an illustrated bird migration talk on the incredible journeys birds, including sand martins, swifts and kittiwakes, make to reach the North East each year.
All events will take place at the Bottleworks, meanwhile two Bird Migration walks will also be led by Wild Intrigue, starting from the Quayside Cycle Hub, on June 15 at 10:30am and June 16 at 9am.