lighting

[helensshelfordhistory]

Our group has just installed a run of boxes round our 3 villages. Having spent several weeks surveying the sites, I had a whole different view of the village last night when returning home at 10pm. Security lights in all sorts of places, some of them quite blinding. Presumably nightime light is detrimental to swifts (and other birds) and should be avoided?

How much lighting can be tolerated? Does artificial lighting actively deter nestbox occupation? Would appreciate views on this.

Helen Harwood,

CamSwift, Cambridgeshire

[Zoe Crossley]

Light pollution is a huge problem. I do have an LED street light outside my house where we have nesting swifts. I was able to get the Taylor Wimpey the house builders to fit metal shields to the ones on my street which stop the light spreading up and to the sides as much and concentrate it downwards. It’s made a small difference and so worth trying for those if you can. 

On 14 Apr 2026, at 08:31, helensshelfordhistory <helensshel...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Helen Harwood]

Hi Zoe,

Thanks for that. We will indeed. Are your swifts nesting in a box or in the roof space? Best wishes,

Helen

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[Zoe Crossley]

We have several pairs nesting in Peak boxes which are on the gable end so quite high up. Hope this helps. 

On 14 Apr 2026, at 11:02, Helen Harwood <helensshel...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Carol Collins]

I would agree that light pollution is a huge problem, but not I suspect not so much for swifts as for other nocturnal/twilght species.  It will presumably depend on just when security lights etc. come on, but I think swifts are usually high in the sky or on their nests by the time it gets dark - I don't think they are active until the world is reasonably light?

Carol Collins

Hathersage, Derbyshire.

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[Helen Harwood]

Thanks Zoe and Carol,

I will keep observing, see if I can reach any conclusions!

Helen

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