BBS report 2024

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Mike Priaulx

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May 29, 2025, 3:59:15 PM5/29/25
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Hi all, the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report for 2024 is out. 


Swift doesn't really get a mention in the text as the one-year trend is actually upwards in the UK (+12%), and in all separate regions too (+36% in Wales!).


It's common to see erratic one-year trends as weather is such as major factor for visible numbers,


but after significant declines in 2022 and 2023, it is good I think to see some respite from the downward statistics.


Download the report here:

General articles:
You can easily do a Ctrl F (Find) for the word "Swift" in the report to quickly see the relevant statistics.


All the best,

Mike


Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group



---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: BirdGuides <ne...@mail.birdguides.com>

Date: Tue, May 27, 2025 at 5:06 PM

Subject: Weekly News from BirdGuides 27/05/2025

Newsletter


27 May 2025

Rarity finders: Wood Duck on Tiree


John Bowler was left shocked on his home island when a potentially mega North American duck appeared during the patch rounds.


Cuckoos up, finches down: latest Breeding Bird Survey report published


The latest Breeding Bird Survey report for 2024 reveals a mixed picture for the UK's birds.




steveklikr

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May 30, 2025, 5:33:26 PM5/30/25
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I photographed this Swift last week in Orton Cumbria with quite a lot of nesting material in its beak. Thought members might find it interesting. Will be on my Instagram feed soon - @holroyd.steve



Steve Holroyd
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Dick Newell

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May 31, 2025, 1:38:52 AM5/31/25
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It is interesting to speculate how such a clump of vegetation becomes airborne. I have a similar example here:
Dick

Helen Lucy

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May 31, 2025, 3:52:47 AM5/31/25
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Hi Steve, that’s a wonderful photo. Is it ok to use it for talks and presentations? People find it hard to believe swifts can catch enough stuff in the air to make a nest! 
Best wishes
Helen Lucy. 

steveklikr

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May 31, 2025, 4:22:39 AM5/31/25
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Thanks Helen - please feel free to use it to help the "Swift cause".
If you need the technical data please let me know.
Regards
Steve

steveklikr

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May 31, 2025, 4:27:49 AM5/31/25
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Great ! 
I was surprised to see the "harvest" which I had not seen until I checked the result. I thought I was just photographing a Swift flying at the usual high speed, in amongst Swallows and H Martins at a nearby farm
Regards 
Steve

Steve Holroyd
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-------- Original message --------
From: Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>
Date: 31/05/2025 06:38 (GMT+00:00)
To: Swifts Local Network <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SLN] Swift image

steveklikr

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May 31, 2025, 6:32:00 AM5/31/25
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Hi Dick
On reflection, I suspect the clump is an accumulation of smaller strands of airborne straw debris collected bit by bit, rather like the beakfuls of Sandeels that Puffins manage to accumulate!
Regards 
Steve

Steve Holroyd
Sent from my phone


-------- Original message --------
From: Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>
Date: 31/05/2025 06:38 (GMT+00:00)
To: Swifts Local Network <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SLN] Swift image

Dick Newell

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May 31, 2025, 12:00:19 PM5/31/25
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You may be right Steve, but I am trying to recall whether I have seen a Swift with more than a single feather in its bill. The Swifts I see coming in on camera usually (always??) carry a single feather looking like a moustache! If they do use the Puffin technique I would expect them to often bring in clumps of feathers. Maybe I have not been sufficiently observant.
Dick

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steveklikr

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May 31, 2025, 1:50:15 PM5/31/25
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You may well be right. The logic is impeccable!

Mike Priaulx

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May 31, 2025, 4:54:48 PM5/31/25
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Hi Ann/ all,


The accuracy of the BBS survey is debatable for any species that doesn't hold a clear visible/ audible territory, but here are a few thoughts:


BBS uses a standard method based on birds seen or heard on a visit between April & mid-May, and another between mid-May and June -


therefore numbers will be based on breeding success at least one year ago, and probably from even longer ago as the "second wave" of 1-3 year old birds will arrive too late for at least some of these surveys


(and this year's birds haven't fledged yet).


Weather will be a factor, but poor weather could potentially increase the count - in my area Walthamstow Wetlands can have hundreds of birds visible on a cold drizzly day, that would be high and widely spread on a hot day.


The Oxford UMNH Swift Diary gives an indication of breeding success from year to year in central/ southern England, as it's a typical urban location, and has excess nesting sites so that's not a significant factor. Recent years have been as follows:


2024 = 77 chicks

2023 = 85

2022 = 83

2021 = 72

2020 = 69

2019 = 80


Sharp declines in the BBS survey in 2023 and 2024 do match up with two poor fledging years in 2020 and 2021, which is not proof of a connection but at least shows that theory could work 


2024 was a mid-ranking year for Oxford UMNH based on recent numbers - ignoring sparrowhawk-affected figures, in the last two decades the range is 36-134.


London for me was slow to get started in 2024 but had good (compared to the last couple of years) peak numbers later in the season, so there were probably regional variations within each country for the effect of weather also.


None of the above proves anything, but something to think about!


All the best,

Mike


Ann Ellis <ann52...@gmail.com>: May 30 10:02AM +0100

Hi Mike.
Re the increase in swifts in 2024 on BTO survey.
I find this very hard to believe.
Certainly in Sheffield, last year was a very hard year due to the weather.
They arrived late and left early, some possibly not even breeding.
I would be interested to know where the BTO gets its data from on swifts as
it may just be more recording undertaken as the swift groups expand and
carry out more surveys.
Thanks Ann

 


Dick Newell

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Jun 1, 2025, 1:15:06 AM6/1/25
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There is some corroboration of the BBS figures as the Reporting rate for Swift in BirdTrack was higher in 2024 than in 2023. Not yet enough data for 2025 to infer anything yet
Dick

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Dick Newell

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Jun 1, 2025, 5:42:33 AM6/1/25
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Hi Steve,
I trawled through some footage this morning and found a number of Swifts coming in with single feathers, then I found one with a decent sized clump of downy feathers (screengrab attached).
So I ask what are the chances of a Swift collecting a number of identical-looking downy feathers versus catching a single clump of identical feathers. I think the latter is more likely.
If Swifts use the Puffin technique to collect nest material one might expect them to have a mixture of things. I have yet to find this.
Dick


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Screenshot 2025-06-01 at 10.35.22.png

Jean Stafford-Baker

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Jun 1, 2025, 8:48:05 AM6/1/25
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Afternoon,

It's possible this "harvest" was scooped off the top of a hay bale & came away with many pieces attached! Swifts have been seen taking nesting material from hay bales.

steveklikr

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Jun 1, 2025, 11:44:36 AM6/1/25
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Very possible - the photograph was taken on a farm and the Swift's nest was in the eaves of a tall barn.

Dick Newell

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Jun 1, 2025, 11:54:57 AM6/1/25
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I would be very surprised if Swifts collected nest material anywhere other than in the air. Maybe it is possible in the same manner that they can drink from a lake.
Dick

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Jean Stafford-Baker

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Jun 1, 2025, 1:50:51 PM6/1/25
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Yes indeed  Dick. I would say it's exactly the same principle as that!

Jean

Tanya Hoare

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Jun 3, 2025, 4:59:15 PM6/3/25
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Just back from holiday, and catching up with emails. I have seen swifts drinking from lakes, but straw/hay is unpredictable. If not loose could be cause a crash. However we have some where a picture of a swift entering with a bundle. I’ll ask Tanya to look it out.
Edmund
 
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