A local resident, who asked not to be named, said the swifts had been living in the Lulworth Avenue area for at least 30 years.<\/p>\n
“They come back every year and it’s now devastated,” they said.<\/p>\n
Hope said she saw at least three destroyed nests at the site.<\/p>\n
“These nests were just chucked aside, they were in somebody’s way and as it’s unbelievable and devastating, especially for a red-listed species.<\/p>\n
“It’s in sharp decline and it’s particularly in sharp decline in the North East.”<\/p>\n
Campaign group Save Newcastle Wildlife said young birds had to be rescued from discarded nests, and has called for a joined-up approach to protect swift populations in the region following similar incidents in Newcastle in 2020 and Consett last year.<\/p>\n
“Despite growing public awareness around the need to protect swift nests, we are still seeing nesting sites lost,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“We have contacted the Police Crime Commissioner and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority asking for their support in investigating how these incidents are being allowed to happen and preventing them from happening in future.”<\/p>\n
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