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Resources to start your Swift project

Boxes & Bricks

Call playing systems & sound files

Churches

Information for Roofers

Boxes & Bricks

You can buy swift boxes or make your own. Click here for plans for the Model30 box which is well proven and very weather proof. Extra notes are here for entrance hole dimensions, and an internal nest cup, which Swifts like and stops eggs rolling around. They don't make much of a nest, and you don't have to clean it out each autumn, it's recommend not to.

Contact us to purchase or buy direct from:

j.stimpson1@btopenworld.com

or

https://norwichmensshed.org.uk/

or different styles of boxes plus callers are available from https://www.peakboxes.co.uk/

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Information on where to hang your boxes in this blog post, or check out the FAQs.

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Information on bricks can be found here, there are many styles available to fit with different types of wall construction. Careful placement & proper fitting will avoid any cold bridging issues.

Retro fitting bricks video: https://youtu.be/gfaZ6jfn_SM?si=ZcuO-aozsd-sy6hl

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Swift box cup view.jpg
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Call Playing

Playing Swift calls will increase your chances of getting the birds to find and use newly installed nest boxes. In some cases it can happen very quickly if Swifts are already near by, but in other cases it can take a few years for them to settle in.

Click here to get a guide to call playing and speaker systems.

Download a 10min file containing duet calls only here: 10min Swift Duets only 2022.mp3 - Google Drive

Download a 20min file containing a variety of calls here: Swifts Playlist 20min 2022.mp3 - Google Drive

Churches

The Ecochurch scheme, Caring for God's Acre, and the Norwich Diocese are all advocates of supporting Swifts (and other wildlife) on church property wherever possible.

Any work has to have the proper permissions, so please read this Guide thoroughly to get started. Not all churches will be suitable, and each one requires bespoke cabinets. If you need advice please do get in touch.

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Key points to remember: 

The boxes are not visible from the outside, do not deaden the sound of bells, do not affect the fabric of the building, and the Swifts do not poop all down the outside.

Boxes do not require cleaning out unless a bird as died inside one. However, they should be inspected at the start and end of breeding season when automated call players are switched on and off.

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Swifts love church tower schemes!

We love church tower schemes as they are very cost effective.

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Information for Roofers

Swifts arrive back in the UK to breed at the end of April/early May. To comply with the Wildlife & Countryside Act, any roof work on buildings with Swifts, or any other birds nesting such as House Sparrows and Starlings, should be deferred until the end of summer. Only in emergency circumstances should disturbance of breeding birds take place, and carried out as quickly as possible. If young are abandoned please contact us for a rescue.

Advice from the NFRC on how to carry out repairs with Swifts in mind can be found here

If property owners ask that no guards are installed to allow their Swifts to keep breeding, please keep the space open. We really need your help with this as preserving existing nest sites is much easier than creating new ones. Please also suggest installing boxes. Thank you!

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Picture shows a Swift nest on the first batten above the gutter.

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