Funding appeal launched to help birds that have set up home in Newcastle

A funding appeal has been launched to strengthen Newcastle’s reputation for birdlife.

The city, together with Gateshead, is already the furthest inland breeding colony in the world for kittiwakes. And in 2023 several sand martins, which usually nest in sandy banks along coastlines and rivers, arrived from their African wintering grounds to investigate the Ouseburn valley.

This year, nine pairs nested in crevices in a sandstone wall near the Free Trade Inn where the Ouseburn joins the Tyne, and successfully raised chicks. Now a crowdfunder has been started to protect Newcastle’s only urban colony of sand martins, which make a journey of over 2,500 miles to reach the Tyne.

The birds search for vertical banks of sand to create their nest burrows, and traditionally have used riverbanks and sea cliffs. But due to the channelisation and modern engineering of waterways, natural nesting opportunities for sand martins have become increasingly limited.

Now community interest company Wild Intrigue, based in the Ouseburn and which hosts events and projects to celebrate, conserve and restore local wildlife, have set up a crowdfunder to create an artificial sand martin bank at the mouth of the Ouseburn. It will be match-funded through the Aviva Community Fund, so every donation (up to £250) is doubled.

There is a deadline of December 12 to reach the target of £6,000 to fund the bank which would be constructed by Green Future Building Lts, Green Future Building Ltd, a not for profit social enterprise, leading suppliers of specialist conservation products. More details are available at https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/ouseburn-sand-martin-colony

The bank would feature 48 nesting chamber, a green roof and a solar powered sand martin call system to attract prospecting birds. There would be a locked, rear access to enable licensed ringing and monitoring by the Northumbrian Ringing Group, along with winter cleaning and maintenance.

Wild Intrigue, which manages the Wild Ouseburn community rewilding project, will host free, accessible community sand martin events, surveys and outreach on a voluntary basis throughout next year, and will continue to maintain the nest bank into the future.

“This 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. “Members of the public and local residents joined to help undertake a nest survey and nine were identified, with chicks poking their faces out from their River Tyne-facing nurseries.

“We couldn’t believe it when we recorded sand martins nesting for the first time at the mouth of the Ouseburn, it would never have been predicted for them to nest there. We now have an incredible opportunity to help expand this population for the future with an artificial sand martin bank.

“As part of the Wild Ouseburn project, we are looking to safeguard the future of our urban sand martins, and enable it to expand. This can be achieved through the provision of artificial nesting opportunities in the Lower Ouseburn valley, which will provide much-needed, designated nesting habitat. The project will give local residents, businesses and visitors direct access to nature and a captivating welcome to the Ouseburn and the Quayside. “

Cath Scaife, project officer natural environment with the Ouseburn Trust, said: "It’s been fascinating watching the sand martins move into the old structures of historic Ouseburn. This project will add significantly to the richness of wildlife in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, also home to otter, kingfisher, bee orchid and much more, as well as bringing people together around the beauty and importance of nature on our doorstep.”

There will also be the opportunity to sponsor a nest hole in the new sand martin bank. The birds are among the first summer migrants to return to the UK each year, arriving as early as March, and among the first to depart in September.