Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic

[Brian Weller]

In Winchcombe our swift support group has put up well over 200 boxes. One question we are often asked is 'are the boxes occupied by swifts'? As many of you are aware this is a difficult question to answer because the swifts enter and leave their boxes so quickly so we often don't know whether they are occupied or empty. We have tried playing swift calls below boxes to see if there is a response, in my experience we do not seem to have got a response, even when I know there are swifts in a box. We have also tried to use a thermal camera to see if there is a heat trace, which, at least, would show the box is occupied. We have some evidence that this may be helpful.

Another idea was to use a parabolic reflector and point it at the box entrance. If the reflector is connected to an App like Merlin and there are swifts or chicks in the box it may identify the sound. Has anybody tried this approach and if so was it successful?

Brian Weller

Winchcombe Swift Support Group

On Mon, 2 Feb 2026 at 06:58, <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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• New swift conservation film - 1 Update

New swift conservation film

Justin Anderson <southbris...@gmail.com>: Feb 01 02:56PM Hello swift lovers.       I know this isn’t the normal sort of post to this group but as well as founding the South Bristol Swifts group I am a wildlife film-maker and working with a crew of volunteers, we have made this not-for-profit film to raise awareness and funds for swift conservation work.       I’m excited to share with you a trailer for the new film – *The ‘other’ Taylor Swift* which tells the story of Louise Bentley of Bolton and Bury Swifts, as she cares for up to 60 swifts, taking them under her wing. Both exhausted adults and fallen chicks are given a second chance, as they are hand fed from dawn till dusk. We follow the fortunes of ‘Babs’, ‘Winchester’ and ‘Taylor’ as they struggle to gain the weight they need, in a race against time to be ready for their return migration to Africa. Every swift counts and for Louise, having formed such a bond with each individual bird, releasing them to the freedom of the skies is both a tender and magical moment. The film's future release will be accompanied by the launch of a website packed with swift advice and information and a swift fund to raise money for local swift conservation groups across the UK.       We have received support from wildlife hero Chris Packham, swift champion Hannah Bourne-Taylor and the late Jane Goodall. We have nearly finished the film but having got this far with volunteers, we need a small amount of money to help us complete the project and make sure it reaches the widest audience.       If you want a sneak peak of the film, check out the trailer on our Crowdfunder page – where we are hoping to raise the funds we need to finish the project. To get there, we really need some help and wondered whether you or other members of your group might be happy to make a donation. We would be so grateful for any contributions.       Check out our page at:       https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/Onvrdd7n       And for news on the film’s release and the launch of our future website and swift conservation fund, check out our Instagram page and give us a follow: @the_other_taylor_swift.film       Thanks for any support you can give us.   Best wishes       Justin       Justin Anderson   Director – The ‘other’ Taylor Swift   Founder – South Bristol Swifts   Author – Super swifts.

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[Tanya Hoare]

Hi Brian

You raise an interesting idea about monitoring box occupancy by sound. At the SLN conference last November we had a fascinating presentation on attempting to record and identify swift chick begging calls, which could then identify occupancy by swifts. It was a research project organsed by Ben Stammers of North Wales Swifts and Hannah Hereward of the BTO. They are goimng to present an update on their research at the international conference in Mayo.

We have done a lot of surveying with thermal imaging with some very good results, but also not without some issues. There is RSPB research project underway on this too.

And yes, Box ocupancyis a very common question, compounded by the fact tat people don't watch their boxes as much as we do.

Hope this helps

Tanya & Edmund

ta.h...@btinternet.com

(1) Sedbergh Community Swifts | Facebook

Member of national SLN Planning Group

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[La Babi]

Hi all

I am running a walk for swift awareness week in July in collaboration with the Council, does anyone know how we can add it to the SAW calendar please? Who do we contact?

Thanks

Best

Barbara

Il giorno ven 6 feb 2026 alle 06:58 <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> ha scritto:

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• NPPF action points revised - 1 Update

NPPF action points revised

Mike Priaulx <michael...@yahoo.com>: Feb 05 08:27AM Hi all,   Just confirming I won't now be sending separate guidance on the NPPF consultation,   so please follow Hannah's advice below.   All the best, Mike   Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group   (NB I'm not actually a planner, but have worked in construction long enough that Stonehenge was one of my later projects :-))     NPPF action points revised     Hannah Bourne-Taylor <hannahbou...@gmail.com>: Feb 04 12:21PM   Hi again,   If you haven't emailed the government yet, here is a more detailed instruction, with the help of our resident expert planner, Mike.

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[Nick Brown]

Hi Barbara
I am coordinating the week once again and Peta Sams is kindly managing the list of events this year which will appear on the Action for Swifts blog as usual.
So, provided your event/s fall inside the week (27 June to 5 July inclusive) do send the details to me and I'll pass them on to Peta.
Peta will soon have finalised a new mechanism to allow event organisers to submit their event details and when she's ready she'll post to SLN about it.

Meanwhile, I'm at brown...@gmail.com so do send your event details to me pro tem.
Please try to follow the style/format used last year: see -  SAW 2025 events - Google Docs .

Nick
ps Currently I'm having some issues with Peta's email address so I'm reluctant to quote it here in case I have it incorrectly

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[Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group]

A huge thank you to Nick and Peta for co-ordinating SAW once again!  A big job so thank you!

Cally

[Edward Mayer]

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

On 11-Feb-26 6:58 AM, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:

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• Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 2 updates in 1 topic - 1 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:

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