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Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

theguardian.com

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Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#61

Post by pdpi »

js2 wrote: post #42

> Hannah Bourne-Taylor, who has campaigned for swift bricks nationally for four years. The article apparently undersells her role. Clicking through to her site, she seems to have been almost singularly responsible for making this happen: > For my campaign – for swifts – I have walked through London naked, twice. First to launch the petition (how else would a nobody reach the almost impossible target?) and secondly to…

The photo is somewhat NSFW (lots of exposed skin, no “naughty bits”), but it’s well worth looking at in some detail. It’s an amazing photo!

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#62

Post by carlosjobim »

erhserhdfd wrote: post #27

I am frustrated by this article. 1. Why focus on Swifts as opposed to any other species in decline? They state that they are "iconic", so maybe that's the answer? Are they more "iconic" than any other specifies in Scotland? 2. Why are these bricks the best solution? Why not take that money that would be spent on bricks and instead preserve land, or just build them dedicated houses elsewhere? 3. Why does this need to…

[flagged]

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#63

Post by flossly »

erhserhdfd wrote: post #27

I am frustrated by this article. 1. Why focus on Swifts as opposed to any other species in decline? They state that they are "iconic", so maybe that's the answer? Are they more "iconic" than any other specifies in Scotland? 2. Why are these bricks the best solution? Why not take that money that would be spent on bricks and instead preserve land, or just build them dedicated houses elsewhere? 3. Why does this need to…

I agree with all your points. And --being vegan-- i really resonate with the "why is this species protected/helped/"iconic" and the other basically deserves torture, confinement and pre-mature death.

Still the piece gave me a warm feeling. I also happen to think swifts are a lovely sight on the country side. Does that make them more iconic?

Prolly not.

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#65

Post by pdpi »

stavros wrote: post #39
boomboomsubban wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was not clear to me. Dunno why people are making such a big deal out of "if you want more info, go here."

I agree with you, I immediately understood what they are, but what's the problem with more clarification? I've upvoted you.

Offering clarification is good, shitting on the article is bad.

The article does, in fact, do a perfectly fine job of explaining what a swift brick is. GP could easily have said “I couldn’t quite picture what a swift brick is”, but instead said “article did a poor job explaining swift bricks”, and that’s what they’re getting criticised for.

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#66

Post by detourdog »

I have an old 80 foot chimney from a coal furnace. I maintain it simple for the annual chimney swifts. They come in mid April and leave in August. Apparently only 2 raise a family in it but it ends up with 100s at its peak occupancy. It’s getting re-pointed this year and I will have 2 hi-def cameras installed at the top to capture the activity. Might end up being my first AI project.

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#67

Post by tadfisher »

carlosjobim wrote: post #62
erhserhdfd wrote: post #27

I am frustrated by this article. 1. Why focus on Swifts as opposed to any other species in decline? They state that they are "iconic", so maybe that's the answer? Are they more "iconic" than any other specifies in Scotland? 2. Why are these bricks the best solution? Why not take that money that would be spent on bricks and instead preserve land, or just build them dedicated houses elsewhere? 3. Why does this need to…

[flagged]

Yes, it's really dumbfounding that the free-market solution wasn't adopted. It is just common sense: you do nothing and let the birds die. Spending £35 when constructing a £300,000 house just doesn't pass financial muster.

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#69

Post by nephihaha »

erhserhdfd wrote: post #27

I am frustrated by this article. 1. Why focus on Swifts as opposed to any other species in decline? They state that they are "iconic", so maybe that's the answer? Are they more "iconic" than any other specifies in Scotland? 2. Why are these bricks the best solution? Why not take that money that would be spent on bricks and instead preserve land, or just build them dedicated houses elsewhere? 3. Why does this need to…

I wouldn't say they are particularly iconic in Scotland. But the answer to the 1) is that they have found a possible simple solution to the issue.

Re: Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland

#70

Post by 4ndrewl »

nothinkjustai wrote: post #43
GaryBluto wrote: post #21

If there were tax incentives for this instead of it being mandatory I'd support it wholeheartedly, but the idea of people being forced to directly attract and accommodate animals to/on their property under threat of punishment is unnerving to me. It's a completely different thing to being made to leave an existing den or nest alone.

You’re getting downvoted, but I agree. It’s never the carrot but always the stick with these kind of government initiatives and then people wonder why they’re so hated. If they were smart they would make it a tax break, and the more you do to welcome animals on your property the bigger it is. Why just one swift brick? What about a bird house? How about a little shelter for cats? Animal lovers get rewarded and those w…

You say they're hated, but my echo chamber says they're a great idea.

If you're so opposed though, you could always vote them out in the next Scottish election.

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