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Sand Martin
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland - Priority species

Sand Martin

The Collared Sand Martin needs steep banks free of vegetation for its nest tunnels in the Central Plateau. These were originally located on natural riverbanks, nowadays gravel pits or artificial sandbanks are colonised. The population in Switzerland declined sharply in the 20th century, but has been on an upward trend again since 2013. There are currently around 6,900 breeding pairs. Conservation measures such as providing advice to gravel pit operators and installing artificial nesting banks are helping to stabilise numbers. Further efforts, in particular the renaturalisation of watercourses, are needed to safeguard the population in the long term.

Distribution and development

Schematic distribution
Verbreitung - Sand Martin
Schematic distribution during the breeding season (ochre), in winter time (dotted in blue) or during migration periods (dotted in vinaceous).
Breeding bird index
The graph shows the relative evolution of the breeding population in Switzerland (100 = mean value). Example: A value of 130 means that the population in the corresponding year was 30% above the mean value of the entire period considered.
Distribution and prevalence in Switzerland
  • Occurs in the Central Plateau and breeds between 300 and 600 m asl.
  • Colonies are found in gravel pits or at sites with artificial sandbanks.
  • There are concentrations of colonies in the cantons of Bern, Aargau and Zurich.
Development in Switzerland
  • Steady decline since the middle of the 20th century: 1960 approx. 9,000 pairs, 1993–1996 between 5,500 and 6,500 pairs, low points of approx. 3,000 pairs in 2003 and 2013.
  • Population has shown an upward trend since 2013, with around 6,900 pairs in 2024.
International
  • Breeds in the northern hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia).
  • North America and Europe also recorded a sharp decline in their populations in the second half of the 20th century. There is no clear trend for the 21st century.

Habitat and food

©
© Susanna Caregnato

The Collared Sand Martin’s original breeding sites were in steep banks on rivers.

©
© Samuel Erzinger

Secondary breeding site of the Collared Sand Martin: sand lenses in a gravel quarry face.

©
© Susanna Caregnato

Artificial sandbank in a refilled gravel pit.

©
© Susanna Caregnato

The Collared Sand Martin’s original breeding sites were in steep banks on rivers.

©
© Samuel Erzinger

Secondary breeding site of the Collared Sand Martin: sand lenses in a gravel quarry face.

©
© Susanna Caregnato

Artificial sandbank in a refilled gravel pit.

Habitat
Wetlands and water bodies
Watercourses
Dry areas and rocks
Gravel pits
Food
Insects and spiders
Flying insects
Habitat and food requirements

The Collared Sand Martin builds its nesting tunnels in steep banks, originally on rivers, nowadays in gravel pits or in artificial sandbanks in the Swiss Central Plateau.

Feeding habitat

  • Skies above water bodies, meadows and fields with high numbers of flying insects.

Nesting site

  • Steep banks free of vegetation (clayey sand, loam or humus).
  • No forest, trees or bushes in the immediate vicinity.

Winter habitat

  • Mainly eastern Africa, but also central and western Africa south of the Sahel.
Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland - Priority species

Sand Martin

The Collared Sand Martin needs steep banks free of vegetation for its nest tunnels in the Central Plateau. These were originally located on natural riverbanks, nowadays gravel pits or artificial sandbanks are colonised. The population in Switzerland declined sharply in the 20th century, but has been on an upward trend again since 2013. There are currently around 6,900 breeding pairs. Conservation measures such as providing advice to gravel pit operators and installing artificial nesting banks are helping to stabilise numbers. Further efforts, in particular the renaturalisation of watercourses, are needed to safeguard the population in the long term.
Priority species at national level
The ‘responsibility’ factor describes the international significance of the Swiss population of a species. The allocation to responsibility classes was based primarily on geographical distribution (Switzerland, Europe or worldwide) and the genetic and/or ecological significance of Swiss populations.
  • Exclusive responsibility
  • Very high responsibility
  • High responsibility
  • Responsibility
  • Joint responsibility
  • Minimal joint responsibility
Operational level
The level at which measures should be taken for all national priority species is specified within the framework of specific 'species conservation' (SC), 'habitat conservation' (HC), or the biodiversity-friendly use of natural resources on the ""entire territory"" (ET) by all sectoral policies. Each species has been assigned to only one level. If measures at the 'entire territory' (ET) level are insufficient for the conservation and promotion of the species, measures at the second level, 'specific habitat conservation' (HC), are required. If this is also insufficient, specific 'species conservation' (SC) measures must also be applied. Therefore, a species requiring specific species conservation measures must also be given special consideration when implementing measures at the 'specific habitat conservation' and 'entire country area' levels.
  • SC species conservation
  • HC habitat conservation
  • NT national territory
SC
Urgency
An expert assessment was made of the urgency with which measures should be implemented, continued and/or newly planned for all species assigned to the specific 'species conservation' and 'habitat conservation' action levels. The two factors of endangerment and international responsibility were considered, as were the prospects of success.
  • Urgent
Circle
Circle
Circle
Population in Switzerland
(2025)
The population estimate indicates how many pairs bred during the specified period. As this number fluctuates from year to year and due to uncertainties in population surveys, a range is given. For some species that are difficult to survey, only displaying males are listed. The population estimates cannot be simply doubled to derive the number of individuals. The number of birds is much higher after the breeding season, some birds take years to reach reproductive maturity, and in some cases the sex ratio is not 1:1.
4000-11000pairs
Red List
Red lists are based on the scientific criteria of the IUCN and assess the risk of extinction of a species. This helps to identify where there is a particularly urgent need for action in nature conservation.
  • Endangered (EN)

Birds of Switzerland

Sand Martin To the species profile in the bird database

Project managers

Threats, activities and forecasts
Limiting factors and threats

A limiting factor is sufficient availability at lower elevations of undisturbed, vegetation-free steep banks for making nesting tunnels.

 
Breeding season
  • Quarry faces in gravel pits: disruption of breeding activity due to excavation work, overgrowth of the bank / approach path.
  • Artificial sandbanks: predation; disruption due to leisure activities, collapses due to heavy rainfall.
  • Cool weather during nestling season.
 
Migration/ Winter
  • Droughts in wintering grounds.
Show more
Necessary activities
Monitoring
  • Monitoring of national population trend by the Swiss Ornithological Institute.
  • Switzerland-wide survey of populations at artificial sandbanks by BirdLife Switzerland.
  • Survey of populations in quarry faces and artificial sandbanks in the Bern/Freiburg/Solothurn area and Aargau and Zurich cantons.
 
Conservation
  • Renaturalisation of watercourses to restore natural water dynamics and steep banks.
  • Providing advice to gravel pit operators on safeguarding existing colonies (with cantons and industry associations).
  • Artificial sandbanks as alternative or additional breeding sites.
 
Research
  • Knowledge of factors influencing the colonisation of new areas.
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Prospects for success and prognostics
  • Provided the ongoing conservation measures (advising gravel pit operators, constructing artificial sandbanks) are continued, the population can be maintained and moderately increased.
  • A substantial increase in numbers over the next 25 years can be expected only if the renaturalisation of watercourses is accelerated.
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Conservation measures and stakeholders
Offer and maintain nesting aids

For existing colony in pits, plan a replacement nesting bank in ecological compensation areas.

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Cantons
Industry and commerce
Municipalities
Nature conservation
Private individuals
Prevent / minimize disturbances

The construction of an artificial sandbank provides a replacement for natural nesting banks which are no longer available and lost nesting opportunities in quarry faces in pits.

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Cantons
Industry and commerce
Municipalities
Nature conservation
Private individuals
Watercourse renaturation
Renaturation of watercourses (particularly by widening the riverbed) and restoration of habitats for species dependent on river ecosystems.
Show more
Cantons
Communities
Municipalities
Nature conservation
Planners and architects
Conservation projects Swiss Ornithological Institute
Monitoring
Monitoring of selected species
vogelwarte.ch
International Bird Conservation
Support African Bird Atlas Project
vogelwarte.ch
International Bird Conservation
Habitat Restoration Africa
vogelwarte.ch
Publications
Additional resources
Gravel pits – refuges for displaced species
vogelwarte.ch
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
Birds of Switzerland

Sand Martin

In Switzerland the Collared Sand Martin breeds in colonies in gravel pits, whereas it used to breed in steep banks of naturally-flowing rivers. There is a lively coming and going in the breeding colonies, which can accommodate up to more than 100 breeding birds. The air is mostly full of the calls of numerous Collared Sand Martins chattering to each other or flying to their nest entr...
To the species profile in the bird database

Synergies with other priority species

Common Kingfisher

				

			

				

					

						

							 Conservation ProgrammeFor birds in switzerland
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The “Swiss species recovery programme for birds” is a partnership programme between the Swiss Ornithological Institute, BirdLife Switzerland and the FOEN. Together with the federal government, cantons, nature conservation organisations and other stakeholders, it implements targeted measures for priority bird species to ensure their survival.							

						

					


					

						

							
							
Swiss Ornithological Institute

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BirdLife Switzerland

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Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

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