A conservation project has reached a milestone after 180 sand martins fledged in Worcestershire.

The RSPB Worcester and Malvern Local Group, in partnership with the Canal and Rivers Trust, have been working to protect the green-listed small migratory birds.

The sand martins travel thousands of miles from Africa to breed in Europe, often creating their nests by digging in sand cliffs, riverbanks or gravel pits.

(Image: RSPB Worcester)

However, in Worcestershire their nests on the banks of the River Severn are often washed away by heavy rain.

To combat this, the RSPB local group installed the first secure box in 2022, which hatched 43 chicks.

Since then, the area’s population has continued to grow, with 78 chicks raised and banded in 2023, and a record 180 chicks fledged this year.

Local group RSPB has installed three sand martin colony boxes across the county on the riverbanks.

These colony boxes mimic natural riverbank habitats and have sand-filled cavities for birds to burrow into.

Simon Evans, project leader, said: “We are delighted with this year’s success.

“A few years ago I wouldn’t have thought that an idea would grow into this brilliant project.

“Not only are we seeing amazing and increasing breeding rates for sand martins here, but we are also connecting with the community to talk to them about these beautiful birds.”

“It is a team effort and we would like to thank the volunteers, the Canal and Rivers Trust and the Worcestershire Environmental Group.”

Sand martins, the smallest member of the swallow family, arrive in March and leave in September.

Where possible, fledging chicks are ringed so that they can be recorded and monitored in the future.

This year the organizations also held a number of activity days with school children, where they could ring birds and learn all about nesting sand martins.

Throughout the winter, volunteers will be busy cleaning the colony boxes so they are ready for March when the sand martins return.

If you would like to get involved or find out more, please contact Simon Evans (project leader) at [email protected].