Tuscan Archipelago National Park and the Municipality of Marciana (Isle of Elba, Italy)
The following is the text of the latest amended Building Regulations in the Municipality of Marciana, Italy as released by Aurora Ciardelli on May 26, 2010
The Town of Marciana on the Isle of Elba amends its Building Regulations to help Swifts and Swallows
Marciana, on the isle of Elba in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, is the first town in Italy to amend its Building Regulations to encourage the nesting of Swallows and Swifts.
Such a decision is not something that occurs every day. The Municipality of Marciana (LI) Elba whose territory is included in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, yesterday (25-05-2010) issued a new set of Building Regulations, which intends to restore the old tiling system which provides openings in the front row to permit entry by Swifts into prospective and existing nest places.
The Common Swift Apus apus is a species that lives on the wing (even sleeping in flight) and, because of its long wings and short legs, is unable to settle on the ground to collect mud and construct a nest as Barn Swallows do.
Swifts nest under tiles and in cavities in walls, creating a nest from air borne material caught in flight and cemented into place with their own saliva. They need a flat place to make the nest and lay their eggs on, and easy access to the open air without any obstructions so they can launch themselves into flight.
The City Council has decided that during future re-roofing work, the front row of tiles will no longer be closed with cement. It has also been decided to adopt a series of technical measures to maintain open access to the nest places of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica and to facilitate the construction of nests of House Martin Delichon urbica under the eaves through the use of rough plaster.
Across Europe in recent years the population of Swifts has dropped dramatically (for example by 40-50% in Great Britain). The main reason for this decline appears to be the blocking up of their nest places during renovation work, while new buildings are usually sealed and useless to them.
Swifts are totally faithful to their nest sites, and return every year to the same nest they have used previously after their 15,000 km migration trip to Africa and back.
"Restoration of existing buildings is the main cause of decline of the species that have nested in the city for centuries in or on human buildings," said Marciana’s Mayor Anna Bulgaresi, adding "With this decision our town, perhaps the first in Italy, wants to give a positive signal to other administrations that with a little effort we can protect our Swallows and Swifts. The fact that the resolution was approved with bipartisan votes means that it should work well for environmental protection and overcome prejudice and ideological barriers with the consent of the people. "
Franca Zanichelli, Director of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park said: "We are proud that Marciana has chosen to act for the environment. For the sake of our biodiversity there could be no better signal. It gives a positive example to all. The populations of Swallows and Martins in the Park are in fair condition while the Swifts, precisely because of the closure of their breeding sites, have already seen sharp population declines”.
A pair of these birds can catch 6,000 insects every day, of which 90% are flies and mosquitoes. The presence in abundance of Swallows and Swifts, provides a natural alternative to using insecticides, and is as vital for the protection of human health as it is for maintaining the ecological balance.
