UK Company selling swift boxes.

[Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group]

Hi all

I received an email the other day and maybe others have too?  From Wildlife World a company based in the UK.  Just sending over a link to their swift nest box - great credentials but highly priced.  What do people think about its design?

Their flyer also attached.

https://wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk/collections/bird-nest-boxes/products/dan-rouse-designed-swift-nest-box

Cally

[Elfyn Pugh]

Hi all,

I think the entrance hole is to big and that bit of wood ie - 'ledge' may allow swift predators like falcons, magpies, squirrels!! to get a foothold onto the box. I score it 5/10.

Elfyn

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[Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group]

Hi Elfyn

Yes my thoughts too.  The other swift box also has a strange access hole but at least no ledge.  The Eaves box doesn't look too bad but i haven't checked on size.

Cally

[Graham Knight]

I agree about the entrance hole being too big - it will also make it more difficult for a resident pair to defend against other Swifts and could lead to more fights?

Not too keen on the durability of a wooden roof and it doesn't say whether it has a nest cup or not?

The price is the biggest issue. For less than £70 I can get three Model 30's from Mens Sheds with uPVC roof and a nest cup, and it is almost as much as an Impeckable, which in my view is a far superior long-life box

Best wishes

Graham Knight

Sawbridgeworth Swifts

Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts

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[Lorna Chandler]

Hi  Everyone,

I think this company needs to be contacted and told their swift boxes are no good for swifts. I’m happy to do this but prehaps don’t have the credentials to do so.

Is anyone better qualified?

Best wishes

Lorna

Sent from my iPad

On 22 Mar 2025, at 14:30, Elfyn Pugh <elfyn....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[T Davies]

I also received an unsolicited email from this company and think someone from SLN should write to them.

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[Edward Mayer - Swift Conservation]

Hello , yes I agree, these boxes have severe faults and are not good for Swifts. The entrance hole of one is vastly too big, I think a Magpie or Kestrel could possibly squeeze in and eat the contents, and the one with the door, well, what holds that door latch in place, ensuring it does not drop and the door then open on its own? Pretty dire designs, as is so often the case with bird nest boxes I find. Yes, the company should be approached and told about the problems. I will write to them and copy it to SLN. Best wishes, Edward

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all, these nest boxes have actually been available for a while - 

see my post to the Google group "Wildlife World Ltd nest boxes" on 30/03/24, 

when the Dan Rouse box under discussion was available.

The TV naturalist Simon King is a consultant for their products and he is a very knowledgeable guy,

so it's possible that these are poorly designed, but it's also possible they have undertaken research and found them successful.

This is a genuine wildlife products company and not a corporation who have jumped on the bandwagon.

Their products are obviously expensive but they are aiming for the designer market I guess.

As I've been in touch with them before I can send them a quick email this week highlighting the concerns about the design,

and see what they think. I will do that unless someone else wishes to contact them.

All the best,

Mike

+++

Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Mar 22 06:40AM -0700

[Cally Smith]

Thanks Edward for taking this on!  They may listen to you.

Best wishes

Cally

Cally Smith 

Founder of Huntly Swift Group - NES Swifts

T: 07411 808573
E: huntlysw...@gmail.com
Facebook/huntlyswiftgroup | Instagram/huntlyswiftgroup

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[Edward Mayer]

Hi Mike, I must admit I am surprised as the Dan Rouse box displays such obvious deficiencies. I could never recommend it. Let's hope they are willing to revise it. I note the the RSPB has just withdrawn all dish and plate type bird feeders from sale, on the pretty obvious grounds that birds defecate in them while eating, and can thus easily spread their diseases to other birds typically finches. This has been known for many years now, but action is only just being taken. It seems to be a sector where lots of mistakes get made. Lets hope that increasing awareness gets them corrected. All the best, Edward

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[Edward Mayer]

Hi  Mike, just to say that I have sent them a message via their website's contact form, but you are welcome to do the same as I cannot tell if they will follow my comments up, and frankly, it's better if more of us comment I think. Best wishes, Edward

On 23/03/2025 10:47, 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork wrote:

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi Edward,

Great, I'll email them also.

I met a couple of staff members at the Futurebuild exhibition last year, but that's my only connection.

I've not heard of Dan Rouse, looks like her programmes are only on Welsh channels.

Many thanks, fingers crossed!

Mike

 

On 23/03/2025 10:47, 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork wrote:

Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Mar 23 11:52AM

[S11swifts]

I just had this reply. If anybody would like to contribute their views please do so, in a genteel manner of course.

"From <ali...@wildlifeworld.co.uk>
To me...

Good afternoon Nicola

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns on our Swift boxes. Being a relative new-arrival at Wildlife World, I need to get some information back from our Product Design Team and also the Ornithology Experts that we consult with, which is going to take a couple of days.

However, if you would be so kind as to explain further your concerns, so that I can directly raise these with the team, I would really appreciate it.

I'll come back to you as soon as I am able to, as we want to ensure that our products are fit for purpose and also the birds that we hope will use our products in the future are safe and in the correct environment.

Alison Polley

Sales Manager"

[Edward Mayer]

I got exactly the same letter and have replied. I will copy it to SLN for everyone to see. Maybe wait until you see it before replying your selves to avoid confusion! Best wishes Edward 

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