Common Swift, Apus apus, nest box scheme 2008

[mark smyth]

Yet another web site dedication to swifts has gone on to the web. It's mine and will be aimed at N Ireland
http://www.saveourswifts.co.uk/

[mark smyth]

would anyone like to have a DVD on swifts? Dont inundate me please.

It contains
an old Anglia TV programme called 'Devil Birds' - 26 minutes
footage from Erich Kaiser's colony in Germany - 35 minutes
footage of a single nest in the colony - 9 minutes
a pair of swifts nesting in a tit type box with a camera on the roof

[mark smyth]

The British Trust for Ornithology and Daily Telegraph are pushing swifts this year. Better late than never.

We, BTO, are running National Nest Box Week again in 2008, from 14-21 Feb. The
Daily Telegraph want to support this and would like to run a feature on
putting up Swift boxes. They would like to talk to someone who has put up a
box and played the accompanying cd and had Swifts move in.

[mark smyth]

Other than Anthony is anyone putting up a swift box or two this summer for swifts? The first wave will be in Europe in 3 weeks.

[mark smyth]

A friend has just put these up on his house. They are closed to stop sparrows moving in. The hole is too small for starlings

[Anthony Darby]

I haven't put my boxes back up since the wall they were on became incorporated into the new extension.

[mark smyth]

I thought you planning to set boxes in to the wall. Playing the CD should work. If they had nested they would be very confused on their return. They are fixated on their nest sites

[mark smyth]

Here's a man from the next town to mine with his home made nest boxes. All occupied. Unfortunately he died this time last year. The boxes will remain in place.

[mark smyth]

Hi all,

Please register as a member of the recently formed uk-swifts project, the aim of which is to ultimately create a comprehensive and freely available database of Swift breeding colonies within the UK. You can help by forwarding details of any colonies you already know about, or that you locate this season, or in the future. The web site to register and record details is
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-swifts

Unfortunately the RSPB, BTO etc are not backing this project so please forward this to locals groups/members of the RSPB, biodiversity officers, wildlife organisations and anyone else you think may be interested. Forward it to anyone you know in  England, Scotland and Wales who may be interested.

You may know already that that there was a very well synchronised fall of swifts across Europe this weekend especially on Saturday. How they did it no one will know

Mark

[mark smyth]

If you do know of swift nest sites and dont want involved with another forum feel free to email me the details

[mark smyth]

Here's a German common swift apartment block built inside the gable of a house

[Armin]

Very interesting Mark - it seems "Erich" has placed "TV cameras" for each nest
Were is the monitor?

[mark smyth]

No cameras, Armin. Erich sits in there with the swifts.

[mark smyth]

I should bring those who are interested up to date with my swifts. I now have 7 nest boxes across the gable of the house. I placed a mini camera in one box and I'm happy to tell you a pair has moved in. Watching them is fascinating. The grainy photo was taken during the night. Added daylight gives a better photo

I have formed the Northern Ireland Swift Group to promote swifts. We are now constituted and have our own bank account. Funds of £300 has so far been donated by two local businesses to buy nest boxes for school projects. Four school will get 5 nest boxes each. Hopefully funding will buy a nest box camera for each school

The cheapest nest box available, the Dutch Zeist design, comes from a very enthusiastic man in Cambridge. He sells them for £12 plus postage. This is approximately £14 total.

[arisaema]

That's nice, they are fascinating birds. There's at least 6 couples nesting under the roof tiles of my house, you can hear them sliding over the zink gutters. Just last week during some bad weather I found one crashed on the lawn, but a few hours of drying up in the windowsill and it was gone. There's plenty of house martins (Delichon urbicum) and barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) here as well, I can try to get a few pictures if anyones interested?