Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 7 updates in 4 topics

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Cherry Hubbard

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Mar 26, 2026, 4:47:13 AM (10 days ago) Mar 26
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Thank you Alistair from Devon Wildlife Trust really comprehensive and useful webinar on funding opportunities- inspiring!

Cherry
Cirencester Swift Group

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On 26 Mar 2026, at 06:58, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:


Tanya Hoare <ta.h...@btinternet.com>: Mar 25 09:48AM

hi graham
 
I don't know if this 'counts' as a large colony in a single building, but we
have 35 pairs breeding in our own cottage in Cumbria. Over a third are in
natural nests in the eaves, the rest are in Cambridge system bricks or S
bricks and 4 pairs in boxes.
 
regards
 
Tanya & Edmund
 
ta.h...@btinternet.com
 
<https://www.facebook.com/Sedbergh-Community-Swifts-105860945339945> (1)
Sedbergh Community Swifts | Facebook
 

 

 

 
From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
<swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dick Newell
Sent: 22 March 2026 14:04
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SLN] Largest Swift colonies on a single building?
 

 
Hi Graham,
 
The last time we checked, St Mary's Ely had 58 pairs in 96 nest boxes.
 
I think St John's Bury St Edmunds has a similar number in 60 nest boxes.
 
My own church, All Saints' Landbeach has 22 pairs in 60 nest boxes
 
At one point, St Mary's St Neot's had 48 pairs in 60 nest boxes - down to 4
pairs last year thanks to a Kestrel.
 
I don't know of any large single building colones near here.
 
Dick
 

 
On Sun, 22 Mar 2026 at 13:52, Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com
<mailto:gpk593@gmail.com> > wrote:
 
Dear all
 

 
I am looking for examples of the largest Swift colonies on a single
building. I am aware of the Oxford NHM tower (53 breeding attempts in 2025)
but am interested in other similar or larger colonies
 

 
In East Hertfordshire, we have been surveying the wonderful Swift colony at
Redwood Court in Bishop's Stortford, where the Swifts nest in the many slots
in the brickwork under the eaves - photos attached. This is an old Victorian
Hospital building which was converted to flats in the 1990's. The Swifts
have probably nested here for many years, but it was only "discovered" as a
significant colony in 2023.
 

 
Since then, Gavin Vicary (NE Herts Swift Group) and I have carried out a
great deal of survey work to establish the size of the colony. In 2025 we
observed Swifts using 47 of the slots, and in the last 3 summers, we have
seen them using a total of 70 different slots.
 

 
It is not the easiest building to survey, but we think it has 60-70 nesting
pairs.
 

 
Unfortunately the management company wants to carry out redecorating works
this summer. We are trying our best to engage with them and try to defer any
scaffolding until the Swifts have gone.
 

 
Any details of other large single-building colonies would help us to put the
importance of the site into context
 

 
Best wishes
 

 
Graham Knight
 
Sawbridgeworth Swifts
 
Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts
<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671>
 
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Tony Croft <the.cro...@gmail.com>: Mar 25 09:56AM

Sadly we've had 7 empty boxes for 2 years now....our last fledglings left 3
years ago and no returns....☹️
 
End of last season we had 2 pairs visit at the end of the season (attracted
by the caller we have installed we think ) so fingers crossed for this year.
 
We've had swifts with an expanded colony for over 40yrs.. We do miss them.
 
 
Best Regards
Tony & Anne
 
On Wed, 25 Mar 2026, 09:48 'Tanya Hoare' via swiftslocalnetwork, <
Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Mar 25 10:11AM

Do foreign countries count too? I think about 2000 pairs in the roman aqueduct in Segovia, 80km NW of Madrid https://www.turismodesegovia.com/en/acueducto/historia-del-acueducto
 
 
 
 
 
Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 06:46AM

Thank you for the various replies to this request. It is interesting that
we don't have many examples of large "natural" nest sites, as opposed to
where boxes are provided, although the latter might be easier to monitor.
Perhaps the days of 100 or more nests on a building are a thing of the past?
 
Alistair - the Segovia viaduct must be a wonderful site to visit in summer
- I won't use it as a comparison for Bishop's Stortford however!
 
Best wishes
 
Graham Knight
Sawbridgeworth Swifts
Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts
<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671>
 
Graham Knight <gpk...@gmail.com>: Mar 26 06:41AM

Please can I encourage responses to this email about evidence of occupied
Swift bricks?
 
Unfortunately since Ros sent this email 6 days ago, not one member of the
SLN has filled in the form. A small number of responses were received back
in November when the original request was made, but there must be many more
examples of Swift bricks being used in various parts of the country.
 
Evidence of Swift brick occupation is really important, and in the long
term the intention is for the results to be made available for future use,
but it won't be particularly helpful if SLN members just keep data to
themselves rather than sharing it.
 
Please - we can do better than this!
 
Best wishes
 
Graham Knight
Sawbridgeworth Swifts
Facebook - Sawbridgeworth Swifts
<https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552550656671>
 
 
 
On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 10:55, Ros Taylor - Kendal Swifts <
Mashamshire Swifts <masham...@gmail.com>: Mar 25 10:21PM

Does anyone have experience of working with English Heritage to get swift
boxes onto one of the buildings they protect?
 
We have identified a potential location on a 15th century grade-1 listed
tower using a north facing window opening that could accommodate 3 or 4
boxes.
 
We have the owner’s permission and support but he leases the tower to
English Heritage who would have to give us permission to fit the boxes.
 
The window is the one high up on the tower you can see the sky through. We
started looking at the church tower but access to that is a major issue.
 
 
Thanks for any advice
 
John Darby
Mashamshire Swift Conservation Community Project
Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Mar 25 10:27AM

Hi there
 
Don’t know if this link is of nay use to people its not just Devon….
 
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/funding-opportunities
 
 
Alistair
 
Kingsteignton Swifts
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