Swallows are a common but declining summer visitor to the UK and can be seen performing impressive aerial manoeuvres while hunting their insect prey. They breed in loose colonies and tend to arrive in the UK in April and leave in October to winter in Africa. Their nests are bowl shaped and often made from clay, mud and straw on the ledges of buildings, typically in rural farmland areas. With the number of suitable buildings declining in the UK, providing artificial nest sites is an important way to help encourage nesting. Swallows prefer dark shaded nesting sites which are less at risk from predators and remain cool in hotter weather.
The Alonso Swallow Nest Bowl is an ideal nesting place for resident swallows. It is comprised of a nest bowl with one compartment for the swallows to nest in, constructed from a thermally stable, breathable, and long-lasting material called wood concrete. It should be placed high up in a dark or shaded area out of the reach of predators such as domestic cats.