SWIFT NESTING SEASON
By Jenny James
A report on the 2024 Swift nesting season in Woodbridge
Woodbridge Swifts is continuing its work in Woodbridge with Nick Marshall recording the swift nest sites and Laurence Potter selling boxes and giving advice. We are ably supported under the umbrella of SOS Swifts with Eddie Bathgate giving constant support and advice.
Monitoring the nesting sites from Nick Marshall …
2024 has generally been a pretty good year for our swifts. Despite persistent cool, wet weather the vanguard of swifts returning from Africa was seen over the town at the end of April. By the first few days of May, the first pairs were back at the nest sites and laying. However, the chill northerlies and rain held back many birds and for much of May swifts were few and far between. By the end of the month however, further waves of birds had made it back and immediately got on with the business of breeding.
The total of known occupied nest sites in the town itself was at least 62, a slight increase on last year. Some 36 of these were in boxes, the remainder in roofs. It is encouraging to report that at almost all sites where observation of the nests was possible there was good breeding success, a number reporting three chicks successfully fledged. It’s interesting to note that the distribution of active nest sites within the town seems to be changing - the town centre apparently having fewer active nest sites than in past years, but away from the centre numbers seem to have increased.
We saw the usual build-up of numbers during July, as fledglings from the last couple of years yet to reach breeding maturity return for a brief period to investigate potential nest sites for next year. We believe that last year was a successful breeding season, and certainly the number of birds in the town by the middle of the month was impressive. There seemed to be screaming parties of birds everywhere, anecdotally the 19th seemed to me and others to be the peak, I can’t remember seeing so many in Woodbridge for several years.
By the end of the month though, most had left to return to Africa, the sky sadly quiet. Not all had left though, there were examples here and elsewhere in Suffolk of late fledging birds being fed by parents during August, right up to 29th in the case of a site in Bredfield Road, and into September in Framlingham. Possibly these are late arrivals, or birds whose earlier clutches had failed for some reason. They have all left now though and we start the long wait until next May when they will be back - boldly reclaiming their skies, behaving as if they’ve never been away….
Swift nest box sales and advice from Laurence Potter
We have been getting a steady flow of enquiries about nest boxes. I find it most interesting to visit the people who are joining a growing group that wants to help swifts. I enjoy chatting to them about putting up boxes and this is especially rewarding when the swifts start to take an interest. I always advise that if a swift call system is fitted this will greatly increase the chance of swifts taking up residence. To give everyone more of the amazing facts about swifts I have leaflets to give out.
Despite having a good number of boxes in Woodbridge already, most enquiries are probably still local. I have sold other boxes to Norfolk, and even 1 box to France which was to be a present for someone’s brother along with a call system. I have also had an enquiry about a local parish looking at installing a multibox box at a church, this would be a fantastic addition for the village, however this will take some careful planning and measurements to ensure it fits in with all concerned. Watch this space for future developments on it.
Since 2016 we have sold around 220 nest boxes, 32 of these this year. In addition, it is clear that the interest is growing as we are finding more and more boxes independently installed installed. Let’s hope the population of swifts also continues to increase. I’m always available on the end of the phone should anyone want help or information about swift boxes, siting, fixing and advice 07860 549366 or woodswiftnestbox@hotmail.com
SOSSwifts update from Eddie Bathgate
This summer has been an excellent time for Save Our Suffolk Swifts, despite the poorer weather than we are used to. Through generous donations of time and money we have been able to distribute many more free Swift Community Sets comprising of multiple nest boxes and a call system around the county with more schools, libraries, churches benefitting.
SOSSwifts continue to offer free surveys and advice for those wanting nest boxes. In 2023 there were 280 nest boxes used by Swifts around the county, and this year the number is up. There are many more locations reporting their first Swift box being used this year. One house had played calls since 2019 and had all but given up of hosting a pair. Swift conservation can take time but we have shown that new Swift colonies can be created and existing ones expanded by the use of Swift boxes. We have just received a significant donation of 130 nest boxes made by the employees of Bunzl. We want your help to place these either as part of a Community Set on a suitable prominent elevation of a public building, or fitted adjacent to an existing colony. Please do get in contact, SOSSwifts are here to help you help Swifts.
My thanks to Nick, Laurence and Eddie for all they do to help the flourishing swift community in Woodbridge. Although they are only with us for three precious summer months, we would feel diminished without them.
Picture courtesy of Chris Courtney
