Alternative nests have been constructed for swifts around the Maiden Tower.

Over the centuries, the stones on the facade of this ancient monument have been damaged by strong winds and atmospheric precipitation, and the mortar between them has been washed away. Swifts (lat. Apus apus) have made their nests in the resulting gaps.

After the museum conservation work at the Maiden Tower was completed and the gaps between the stones were filled, it was recognized that it would no longer be possible for swifts to nest here in the same numbers as before. Therefore, on the proposal of Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, head of the IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Protection) campaign, the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department decided to build alternative nests for swifts near the Maiden Tower. To implement the process scientifically and apply international experience, cooperation was established with a number of organizations.

Based on consultations with BirdLife Austria Ornithologists’ Society, more than 500 nests specifically designed for swifts in Europe were acquired and installed on the facade of a building near the Maiden Tower. Although the number of swifts nesting in the Maiden Tower is approximately 250–300, the number of artificial nests is roughly twice that, aiming to increase the future population of swifts.

At the same time, collaboration was established with the UK-based international organization Swift Conservation, which specializes in the protection of swifts, regarding the relocation of birds to alternative nests.

To attract the birds to the nests, Swift Conservation provided written instructions and CDs containing recordings of swift calls. The sounds of swifts are broadcast via loudspeakers during the times of day when the birds most actively search for nesting sites.

Swifts are considered very conservative birds and select their nesting sites a year in advance. For this reason, Swift Conservation has noted that attracting them to artificial nests is a complex and time-consuming process, and full occupation of the nests may take 2–3 years.

To preserve the iconic image of the Maiden Tower with swifts, it is planned to retain around 80 nests on the tower’s facade during the museum conservation, ensuring that the monument is not damaged.

These birds arrive in Baku in early April, breed here, and migrate to South Africa with the new generation in July–August.