A long-established swift nesting site is at risk and we urgently need your help.
At the Pound Road (Banstead) swift colony, a newly installed flue pipe has been positioned directly in front of an active swift nesting entrance, blocking access to a site these incredible birds have reportedly used successfully for many years.
This issue was identified and raised by the brilliant local conservation group Banstead Swifts, whose dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to monitor, protect, and advocate for swifts in the area. Without groups like Banstead Swifts, many nesting sites – and the birds that depend on them —- would simply go unnoticed and unprotected.
Swifts are one of Britain’s fastest declining birds.
They travel thousands of miles from Africa every year to return to the exact same nesting sites – only to increasingly find them gone, blocked, or destroyed. The loss of nesting spaces is one of the main reasons their populations are collapsing across the UK.
And now it is happening again.
Banstead Swifts said on Sunday they saw a Swift collide with the pipe, fall, then return and try to access the nest between the pipe and brickwork. They’ve seen no nest entries since.
What makes this especially frustrating is that this situation appears entirely avoidable.
The flue pipe could reportedly be repositioned relatively easily, restoring access to the nest and protecting this important breeding site.
We are urging Raven Housing Trust to act immediately and demonstrate genuine commitment to wildlife protection and biodiversity by moving the flue pipe before this nesting site is lost.
Please take a moment to sign our petition to Raven Housing Trust politely and respectfully asking them to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Every nesting site matters. Every pair matters. And if we continue allowing sites like this to disappear, we will continue watching swifts vanish from our skies.
I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
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