Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 5 updates in 3 topics

[Edward Mayer]

Hi Ian, How about obscuring the activation light on the cameras with black paint or nail varnish or a lump of wax or Blue Tack? All the best, Edward

On 21-Mar-26 6:58 AM, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:

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• Nest Brick Cameras for Swift Bricks - 2 Updates
• best advice to give to home owners? - 2 Updates
• Use of integral Swift Bricks by swifts and other birds - 1 Update

Nest Brick Cameras for Swift Bricks

Ian Donovan <ian.do...@gmail.com>: Mar 20 09:10AM After a successful project installing swift bricks at Battle Library, East Sussex in 2021 https://e-voice.org.uk/hastingsandrotherswifts/battle-s-special-project/ in conjunction with Dick & Edward, we are now looking at installing camera(s) to observe activity in the bricks.   The bricks have perspex backs we need to film through, and the problem with this is the activation light on the Blink Mini cameras reflecting onto these obscuring the image.   We're considering removing the perspex backs then enclosing the exposed camera/swift brick in a wooden cabinet attached to the back of the brick.   Since install, we have backed all of the bricks with wooden panels to exclude light from the inside of the clocktower that we have to illuminate with an electric light to access the caller in season.   Does anyone have any ideas for other recommended cameras and ways of mounting/installing for this project?   TIA   Ian Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group

Stuart McFadzean <stuart.m...@gmail.com>: Mar 20 02:51PM Glare is a problem if the lights and the camera are both behind glass/Perspex and the swifts are on the other side. If you can get lights inside swift box and camera in black box extension on other side of the glass then that will help. You could cover camera lights and use some led strips from here https://www.smallscalelights.co.uk/category/model_railway_lighting/ on a simple 5v or 12v timer or light switched timer and abandon IR. We are trialling this approach at Bampton church, Devon this year.   Stuart.   On 20 Mar 2026, at 09:10, Ian Donovan <ian.do...@gmail.com> wrote:      After a successful project installing swift bricks at Battle Library, East Sussex in 2021 https://e-voice.org.uk/hastingsandrotherswifts/battle-s-special-project/ in conjunction with Dick & Edward, we are now looking at installing camera(s) to observe activity in the bricks.   The bricks have perspex backs we need to film through, and the problem with this is the activation light on the Blink Mini cameras reflecting onto these obscuring the image.   We're considering removing the perspex backs then enclosing the exposed camera/swift brick in a wooden cabinet attached to the back of the brick.   Since install, we have backed all of the bricks with wooden panels to exclude light from the inside of the clocktower that we have to illuminate with an electric light to access the caller in season.   Does anyone have any ideas for other recommended cameras and ways of mounting/installing for this project?   TIA   Ian   Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group   --   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group.   To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com.   To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CAJpQ7CMz3svq1uLdjv%3DtWPjN35SMEX7qMFBO%3D4j%2BD4%3Dsx%3D-Xdw%40mail.gmail.com.

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best advice to give to home owners?

Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts <super...@outlook.com>: Mar 20 10:12AM Hi Mike & All,   Really hope the mitigation works. Its stressful to find the eaves sealed up but at least these boxes are in place.   I am working currently with three different contractors, one is BAAS - contractors to social housing and they are sealing in eaves at a swift colony. However, they are going to be including a high number of soffit boxes from Action for Swifts. Which I am thrilled about.   The other two contractors are putting external boxes up and their houses are amongst colonies too but not accommodating any Swifts; they sealed in the eaves 20 years ago with plastic. Now finally they are adding some mitigation at our request.   Best Wishes, Louise   [image] [See the source image] [image]   Bolton & Bury Swifts Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BoltonAndBurySwifts/> Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/boltonandburyswifts/> House Martin Conservation<https://housemartinconservation.com/> Bolton Green Umbrella<https://boltongreenumbrella.org.uk/>     ________________________________ From: 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 8:40:50 PM To: Digest recipients <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Subject: [SLN] best advice to give to home owners?   Hi Louise (Bolton & Bury Swifts)/ all,   I have visited the site in Harrow I mentioned two weeks ago and we've installed boxes now, a mixture of Action for Swifts Model 30, and Peak Boxes Gen #2 boxes.   The new Gen #2 boxes are compact and lightweight, so easier to install I think than the previous plywood boxes, and should have a long lifetime. We added a screw through the back of the box to be on the safe side.   The council had re-roofed two houses and had completely sealed the open eaves of one house with a (not attractive!) uPVC boxed soffit, and the other house still looked to have open eaves but a membrane installed to stop birds getting in,   (as I've mentioned before this is not a legal requirement, but just the modern way)   so my experience would be to assume that all nest sites will be blocked unless you know otherwise.   Luckily in this case the residents were aware and got in touch (I went last summer and the local nest sites are very much concentrated in these two houses, for some reason),   so hopefully the 11 boxes (16 nest spaces) plus playing calls will be enough to save the colony.   (Cutting holes in the soffit boards would be another option but was just impossible to organise as I'm so far away.)   One house had an amazing 10 (estimated) nest sites, which would have just gone if no-one was paying attention so it shows how easily colonies can be lost.   So we need to keep on raising awareness :-)   All the best, Mike   +++   Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts <super...@outlook.com>: Mar 04 03:12PM   Hi Mike,   When you manage to get over there, I'd be really interested to hear what you find. As you know I do quite a bit of work with social housing contractors and I'm keen to learn more about how different methods of works affect the swifts access.   Thanks, Louise   [image] [See the source image] [image]   Bolton & Bury Swifts Facebook<<https://www.facebook.com/BoltonAndBurySwifts>https://www.facebook.com/BoltonAndBurySwifts/> Instagram<<https://www.instagram.com/boltonandburyswifts>https://www.instagram.com/boltonandburyswifts/> House Martin Conservation<<https://housemartinconservation.com>https://housemartinconservation.com/> Bolton Green Umbrella<<https://boltongreenumbrella.org.uk>https://boltongreenumbrella.org.uk/>   ________________________________ From: 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 1:53:58 PM To: Digest recipients <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Subject: [SLN] best advice to give to home owners?   Hi Louise,   I'm not sure exactly what the council have done, but a similar home with nest sites on the same estate was re-roofed, and the nest sites turned out to be blocked   (although luckily new nesting places seemed to be found in adjacent houses, in that case).       -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/d76d0a5d-e4d9-441d-9d09-c60c9c86621c%40yahoo.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/d76d0a5d-e4d9-441d-9d09-c60c9c86621c%40yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

Tony Croft <the.cro...@gmail.com>: Mar 20 10:59AM 👍     Best Regards Tony   On Fri, 20 Mar 2026, 10:12 Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts, <

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Use of integral Swift Bricks by swifts and other birds

Ros Taylor - Kendal Swifts <rosalin...@gmail.com>: Mar 20 03:55AM -0700 Just before the conference, I asked if any groups have information about the uptake of integral bricks by swifts, and others. Thank you to all those who have replied. The question has been taken up with interest by the SLN Planning group, and so I am sharing the link to the Google form again, in case anyone else has any data. https://forms.gle/E2TMsonj6v8JKLTw9 It's a very simple form, designed to hold the basic data that should be useful when lobbying planning authorities. As we look forward to swifts' arrival, perhaps this would encourage all who have bricks in their areas to collect this information. Thank you Ros Ros Taylor Kendal Swifts https://forms.gle/E2TMsonj6v8JKLTw9

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