Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 11 updates in 6 topics

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La Babi

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Feb 12, 2026, 1:15:19 PMFeb 12
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Hi Edward

I know of the following  two in Italy:

‘Figli dell’aria - Rondoni a Campiglia Marittima’ by Eugenia Parisi

‘Dove i rondoni vanno a dormire’ by Franco Sacchetti (also translated in French)

And this in France:

‘Une vie d’oiseau’ by Nicole de Cock


Hope this helps

Barbara


Il giorno gio 12 feb 2026 alle 06:58 <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> ha scritto:
Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Feb 11 10:16AM

Hello! I have had an enquiry. An author has got in touch and would like
to know about all the illustrated childrens books about Swifts that have
been published in Europe and the UK in recent years? Can you advise me
with titles and authors if you know of any? Many thanks! Edward
Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Feb 11 02:30AM -0800

Screamer the Swift by John Miles
Swift by Lorna Hill
there are more!
 
Cally
 
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:16:45 AM UTC Edward Mayer - Swift
Conservation wrote:
 
Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts <super...@outlook.com>: Feb 11 04:45PM

Perfect by Nicola Davies and Super Swifts by Justin Anderson,
 
Both are excellent.
 
Louise
 
      
 
Bolton & Bury Swifts
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  
House Martin Conservation
Bolton Green Umbrella
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: 'Edward Mayer' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 11 February 2026 10:17
To: Swifts Local Network <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] Illustrated Childrens Books about Swifts
 
 
Hello! I have had an enquiry. An author has got in touch and would like to know about all the illustrated childrens books about Swifts that have been published in Europe and the UK in recent years? Can you advise me with titles and authors if you know of any? Many thanks! Edward
 
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Peta <peta...@btinternet.com>: Feb 11 04:19PM

This development is looking hopeful - 15 swift bricks.
 
However the houses have been built- the brick work is completed, the roofs are on, the windows in and the scaffolding has been taken down.
 
But no swift bricks. I’ve taken the case up with our planning enforcement team and been told that the developers are going to return at a later stage of the development and put the bricks in. Definitely bricks, not boxes.
 
Swift bricks are to be installed though when the houses are nearing completion a
decision by the developer.’
 
Time will tell but I am doubtful. Anyone come across this method of installing swift bricks?
 
Actually the construction of the houses doesn’t look like it will be easy to get swift bricks in as the house bricks seem to just be an outer leaf up against an insulated frame.
 
 
Peta
Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Feb 11 02:45AM -0800

Hi Barbara
I think Mike and Edward have covered this but i was involved with a listed
building project some years ago and with advice and guidance from Edward i
relayed to the builders to wrap the scaffold with Ecowrap (rather than
standard netting) to prevent the swifts entering to get to old nest sites,
and to fix nest boxes on to the scaffold in like for like places to old
nest sites. We were lucky in as much as swifts were also nesting at the
building next door which kept up their interest, plus we used a call
system. The works covered an entire season. There was prospecting at the
temporary boxes but no nesting as it turned out. TBH i didnt think there
would be. I imagine there will have been losses with swifts displaced, and
had we not done this they would possibly all have been lost. Not much
consolation mind you. The newly reinstated provisions are being used once
again. It helped greatly that i was allowed to put forward a proposal
which in turn was copied in to a SPP by the ecologist to get the ball
rolling.
 
I dont agree that provision should be moved to the rear of the house as
there are so many solutions to install provision at the front, which can be
invisible if done correctly. There are many options!!! All depends on the
extent of the works. The swifts may be relocated to the rear with a call
system i guess but not ideal. The trouble often is that dare i say, many
ecologists know nothing about bespoke solutions, all they know is a
standard swift brick or an external nest box!!! Edward and Dick are the
best people to get involved as they have YEARS of experience on me!!!
 
Good luck X
Cally
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 8:46:30 AM UTC barbaratomassi wrote:
 
Mike Priaulx <michael...@yahoo.com>: Feb 11 07:56AM

Hi Barbara,
 
I remember hearing about a case where boxes on the outside of scaffolding were successfully used for one or two seasons, I think it was a historic building in Henley-on-Thames or somewhere like that. I've seen photos from Europe of the same although I don't know if those were successful.
 
So whilst there's no guarantee it will work, set up a calls system so that's running before the season starts, put the boxes as close to the current position as possible, and I think it's possible!?
 
Make sure the scaffolding has a sheet type covering and not netting, so birds can't get tangled up and there's less disturbance from the workers.
 
Also make sure they definitely get the scaffolding & boxes up by April as the schedule often slips.
 
Possibility of working around the breeding season depends on how long the works will take. If longer then 9 months (if expected to take 9 months, then it's quite likely to take longer!) then it is going to have an impact on a season.
 
They often prefer to work in summer due to drier weather, but that's not guaranteed any season so that is not really an excuse.
 
Any other questions feel free to make contact.
 
All the best,
Mike
 
Islington and Hackney Swifts Groups
 
+++
 
Update
Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 2 updates in 1 topic
 
La Babi <barbara...@gmail.com>: Feb 10 08:46AM
 
Hi all
 
In need of some advice please. Our HQ, an old Victorian house in need of
repair, was sold to a private company last year and we are in the process
of moving out. There are 10 model 30s on the wall, mostly occupied. I sent
some info material to the company a while ago via our facilities manager,
and they were positive and promised they would look after the swifts during
renovation.
 
Roof renovation will start in April and will last for 9 months. I had a
call from the head of facilities yesterday and the company wants to take
down the old boxes in February so that work doesn’t get delayed, and they
don’t seem to have thought much about mitigation for this breeding season
at all. Their ecologists apparently thought swifts come back in March and
they had no idea that the swifts will literally bang their heads on the
wall trying to find the boxes!
 
Also from what I understand they were planning to add swift bricks at the
back of the building in a ‘more suitable location’ to substitute the boxes
at the front once the roof work was completed, which means of course the
the swifts will not be able to breed at all as the location is too low, so
I suggested to also add nesting solutions at the front, where the current
boxes are. This however will still mean that the swifts will not be able to
breed this year.
 
Our facilities manager proposed to temporarily hang the boxes on the
scaffolding: I don’t understand why the company cannot work around the
swifts breeding times and allow them to nest while the work in the roof is
being carried out…
 
My questions are; would swifts nest in the boxes if they were attached to
scaffolding? And is working around the swifts an achievable thing?
 
Thanks so much for the support with this 🙏🏼
 
Barbara
 
Il giorno sab 7 feb 2026 alle 08:18 La Babi <barbara...@gmail.com> ha
scritto:
 
Back to top
 
 
⁣
Mike Priaulx <michael...@yahoo.com>: Feb 11 08:30AM

Hi again Barbara,
 
I found the Henley-on-Thames scaffolding project on the Swift Conservation: Our Projects page (maybe Edward knows more about it?)
 
Here's the link, and do a word search for "Chantry":
https://www.swift-conservation.org/OurProjects.htm
 
The project's full name is St Mary's Church Chantry House.
 
All the best,
Mike
⁣
 
Henry Kenner <henryk...@gmail.com>: Feb 11 09:33AM

i think Lilynda Huxley in Ireland had a similar succesful use of boxes on
scaffolding whilst building work was concluded.
 
henry
 
On Wed, 11 Feb 2026, 07:56 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork, <
La Babi <barbara...@gmail.com>: Feb 11 10:42AM

Hi all
 
Thanks for the prompt and useful advice. The boxes will be taken down this
Saturday. I too am worried about the builders’ schedule as this often
changes; I have mentioned to our facilities manager how time is crucial in
this instance, and he said he will relay this to the project manager in
charge of the renovation.
 
I have found a similar mitigation solution in Mauro Ferri’s archives in
Italy (Monumenti Vivi Liguria, a project carried out in the Liguria region
by Liguria birding, attaching below). I have requested to speak to the
project manager directly, waiting for a reply.
 
Thanks
 
Best
 
Barbara
 
 
Il giorno mer 11 feb 2026 alle 09:33 Henry Kenner <henryk...@gmail.com>
ha scritto:
 
Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Feb 11 09:35AM

Dear Barbara, Hanging the nest boxes off the scaffolding in front of
where the birds were nesting can work. It is standard practice in Zurich
and has worked well at sites in Parma. It needs careful planning and
management of course. Where are you writing from? If it is Italy we have
local contacts who can assist you there. Best wishes, Edward
 
Llanidloes Swifts <llanidlo...@gmail.com>: Feb 11 09:29AM

Hi Swifties
 
I am buying two swift nest boxes and have a choice of buying with the hole
underneath the swift nest box or hole in front. I can't remember if you
experts have come to a conclusion on whether one is preferable over the
other. I recall that one theory was the chicks could drop out of the hole
underneath.
 
Advice welcome. Thank you.
 
Cofion cynnes/ Kind regards
 
Kate
 
Gwenoliaid Duon Llanidloes Swifts
(GDLIS)
 
 
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Brian Weller

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Feb 13, 2026, 3:45:29 AMFeb 13
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
The S-brick company provide swift bricks for timber framed buildings. They are less deep than those for a traditional construction but wider.
Brian
Winchcombe Swift Support Group
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