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Swift Houses

Robyn
20/10/2009 02:16

Hi everyone,

My name is Robyn and I have just joined this evening so please be gentle on me lol

I have a question regarding a programme that has been on the television tonight called Inside Out  and only saw the last couple of minutes regarding Swift nest boxes...

My hubby and myself have been members of the RSPB for 28 years and have done waht we can regarding nest boxes for Tits etc,havng a pair {or their offspring} nesting in our box for the last four years.

Now,we have learnt that the Swift population has been in decline for a few years and because we are in a new build house know that there is no suitable nest sites in the rooves of these houses,unlike the houses of my parents generation where it was easier for the birds to nest.

We would like to do our bit if we can to help these lovely birds{I call them screamers} to be able to have them nesting in our roof and hopefully other peoples rooves in our village if we have some sucess.

If anyone could direct me to information of the best design of nest box we could use then I would be most grateful.

I haven't got my latest RSPB gift catalogue to hand so not sure whether there are any boxes in the catalogue,though my hubby is good at DIY so wouldn't mind making our own.

Thanks xx

 

 

 Being Happy doesn't mean everythings perfect........

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.....

  • 0 20/10/2009 02:22

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/roofs/internal_boxes.asp

    Hi Robyn,

    Try the above link for info. Welcome to the forum.

    Graham.

    Be Inspired,

    Dream it, Crave it, Work for it, Live it.

  • 0 20/10/2009 12:39 in reply to nestbox

    Hi Nestbox many thanks for your reply.I will pass the info onto my hubby so he can have a read...

     Being Happy doesn't mean everythings perfect........

    It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.....

  • 0 20/10/2009 12:51

    Hello

    Here's a design for a DIY box:-

    http://www.londons-swifts.org.uk/simple_swift_box_1.pdf

    This BTO document is a bit larger but I have used it for ideas on various nest box design:-

    http://www.bto.org/notices/nestbox.pdf

    Hope they help.

    "Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins

  • 0 20/10/2009 15:31

    Hello Robyn

    You may also find this link of interest

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/thingstodo/surveys/swifts/index.asp

    Last summer I put up a swift nestbox on an outside wall - as high up as poss, in a sheltered spot.  It was too late for them to use this year but I also serenaded them with a tape of swifts calling, every time they zoomed past.  I hope that they have earmarked this nestbox and will use it next year.  It's close to a successful starling box so I hope they make good neighbours.  However, if you are able to put a box in the roof space I think that this will be more to their liking.  Good luck with your mission, as swifts really need all the help they can get - it's such a shame that we have to wait so long to see how successful we have been.

     

    Best wishes

    Watch out for swifts

  • 0 20/10/2009 18:30 in reply to ValO

    Hi Val,

    Thanks for the link.

    We desperatley want to help encourage Swifts into our village.We have seen a couple of them flying round the village this year but as all the houses are built with the same rooves ie all boxed in there isn't anywhere suitable for them to nest.

    I will talk to my hubby and we will either have to make room in the loft for a nesting box or try to attach one to the outside of the house under the eaves if we can

    Good Luck with your box and I will also use the swift screams from my RSPB CD in the spring to see if it works

     Being Happy doesn't mean everythings perfect........

    It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.....

  • 0 22/10/2009 18:52 in reply to Robyn

    Hi Robyn
    Good luck with attracting your swifts next year. You may also want to try looking on the swift conservation website. They have lots of advice and a range of products you can buy via their website, including purpose made CD's for luring birds.

    If you do get boxes put up, please remember to take a few minutes to complete our Inventory nest site form. This will assist with our wider work to help swifts. You will find other useful information and links on the page I have linked you to.

    We had eight new boxes put up at the Lodge this spring. In the picture below, taken by Sarah Niemann, you can see four of the nest holes in the two smaller louvre slits. The larger central slit houses a loud speaker playing the calls. We had the calls playing throughout summer in the early morning until about 9am and again in the evening from about 17:30. Birds were attracted to it within a week!



    Up to four or five birds were seen prospecting the site each morning. They were even seen 'banging' against the holes trying to see if the nest is occupied. Hopefully, the site will now be inprinted on them and they will return in the next year or so to nest.

    Is yours a Home for Wildlife?
    Make your home and garden a better place for you and the wildlife that visits it. Click here and sign up today  http://www.rspb.org.uk/hfw/

  • 0 22/10/2009 20:31 in reply to John Day

    If they were literally "banging" against the holes I should think it is well and truly imprinted on them ☺☺☺

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  • 0 22/10/2009 20:35 in reply to Squirrel

    Squirrel B said:

    If they were literally "banging" against the holes I should think it is well and truly imprinted on them ☺☺☺

    LOL Squirrel!!

    "All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)

    My photos on Flickr