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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Phoebe Weston

Muck in to help nesting birds during UK heatwave, says RSPB

A House Martin collecting mud for its nest.
A house martin collecting mud for its nest. The hot weather could mean the earth is too dry for the birds. Photograph: Tom Marshall/RSPB

The RSPB is urging the public to get their hands dirty this weekend and create mud pies to help endangered birds such as house martins, swifts and swallows get enough sludge to build their nests.

A nine-day mini-heatwave is hitting the UK, which coincides with the return of migratory birds here to breed. Many of these birds have flown thousands of miles on their journey. But conservationists are concerned that the ground is getting so hard it could stop them from being able to make their nests.

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