IT’S HOME Tweet Home for the birds thanks to pupils from Tullibody’s four primary schools.

Youngsters have been busy building nest boxes to be put in place during national nest box week, which runs until Thursday.

Organised by the British Trust for Ornithology the week aims to encourage people to put up nest boxes to replace the natural nesting sites that are lost as houses are repaired and woodlands tidied up.

Since the week started in 1997 it is estimated that between five and six million nest boxes have been put up across Britain.

This year Clackmannanshire Council has organised several events.

Around 90 pupils from primary 3-5 at Abercromby, Banchory, St Bernadette’s and St Serf’s primary schools have been making nest boxes in class and will install them in Delph woodland on Monday.

Meanwhile pupils from Alloa’s Sunnyside Primary are also doing their bit for the area’s feathered friends.

Substantial landscape improvements recently carried out in Greenfield park have resulted in a number of mature trees being removed and the loss of nesting places so pupils have made nest boxes which they will help to install on Monday.

Tomorrow Clackmannanshire Council’s countryside rangers and members of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership will be replacing the swan nesting platform at the Delph Pond and installing two floating reed beds which will provide shelter for swans and other birds.

A new sand martin nesting bank at Gartmorn Dam has also recently been completed in time for the migrating birds to return from southern African in the spring.

The wooden structure was created by the countryside rangers and the biodiversity partnership with the help of local volunteers, and will be officially opened next month.

The council is also installing nest boxes and swift boxes on its own buildings at Lime Tree House and at Kilncraigs.

Two boxes with cameras will be installed and connected to the screens in the receptions at both buildings to enable staff and visitors to see the chicks being raised.

Guy Harewood, Clackmannanshire’s biodiversity co-ordinator, said, “Sadly, many of the natural nesting places for our favourite garden birds are disappearing every year as old houses are renovated and woods and hedges are trimmed and cleared.

“I would encourage people to put up a nest box in their garden if they have one. A nest box can give you great pleasure as you see wild birds set up home.

“If you put up a bird box during National Nest Box Week you stand a chance of having a nesting pair of song birds in your garden by spring, such as robins, blue tits, sparrows, coal tits and wrens.”