BOXES have been added to Cowley houses in a bid to help a species of endangered birds.

The aim is to provide additional nesting spaces for swifts – known as a ‘master of the sky’ – which have seen numbers plummet in recent years, falling by more than half between 1995 and 2015.

This is largely due to a loss of suitable nest spaces as old buildings are renovated or demolished, with new buildings often lacking the crevices the small birds use.

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Twelve of the bespoke boxes have now been installed on properties in the Clive Road and Maidcroft Road area, with more set to be added.

Cowley councillor David Henwood used his ward budget to fund installing the boxes, with nine coming from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and three home made.

Mr Henwood worked with Florence Park Low Carbon and Environment on the project.

Oxford Mail:

St Gregory's students have also volunteered to make additional boxes for Oxford City Farm.

Swifts are on the amber list of endangered species.

After leaving the nest where they hatched, they will keep flying non-stop for three years.

The RSPB has been running a project called Oxford Swift City since May 2017, aiming to raise awareness of the ways people in the city can help the species thrive.

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Part of the scheme gives community groups a free kit to create nest spaces for swifts, including one or more nest boxes, wildflower seed and a participation certificate.

A competition was also run to design a 'swift tower' to house more nests for the birds at Oxford’s University Parks. Any group with a suitable building can apply.

For more information visit rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/oxford-swift-city/.