Suffolk - Update

[Swifts (SOS)]

Evening all

Below are a couple of graphics showing the increase in both the number of locations hosting Swifts and the number of nest boxes used by Swifts around the county over the last 10 years or so. We have built upon the lesson learnt from the initial successes in the west of the county. There’s is a big jump in box numbers used between 2023 and 2024, some of this is possibly due to increased vigilance and Herts’ Graham Knights method of nest monitoring using calls.

Early thought for this season is that though there are still many Swifts to return to monitored nest boxes we have received multiple reports already of more nest boxes being used for the first time in 2025. We are hoping for some easy wins after many of the 130 nest boxes kindly donated to SOSSwifts by BUNZL in 2024 have been donated for fitting at locations where Swifts are breeding already.

I still feel that we have no idea on the number of existing nesting sites being lost due to renovation works. Loft insulation, re-roofing and anti-leaf gutter brushes have been recent culprits noted.

Many thanks for all the gems from here and see you in Lancaster hopefully.

Very best wishes

Eddie Bathgate

@SoSSwifts

SuffolkBirdGroup.org/sos-swifts

Suffolk Bird Group (SBG) is committed to protecting your privacy as a member.  If you share your contact details we will keep them on a secure spreadsheet to enable us to fulfil our responsibilities to provide you with the benefits of membership.  We value your support and will not pass on information about you to anyone outside SBG.  If you would prefer not to receive future information from SBG please inform us by emailing communications@suffolkbirdgroup.org

[Dick Newell]

Great work Eddie. Using BTO estimates of average swift population density there would be about 500 pairs of Swifts in the whole of Suffolk, which would mean you have half of them in nest boxes! Of course, the BTO estimate is wildly wrong by a large factor, but even so  you have a very worthwhile proportion.

Dick

Suffolk Bird Group (SBG) is committed to protecting your privacy as a member.  If you share your contact details we will keep them on a secure spreadsheet to enable us to fulfil our responsibilities to provide you with the benefits of membership.  We value your support and will not pass on information about you to anyone outside SBG.  If you would prefer not to receive future information from SBG please inform us by emailing communi...@suffolkbirdgroup.org

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