Boxes with 'landing strips'

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Amanda Randall

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Aug 15, 2025, 11:09:35 AMAug 15
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Hi there,

I have had this question from someone "I wondered if anyone had any experience of the swift boxes with landing strips?"

Do swifts have a preference for one kind of box over another?  I said I would ask you people who are founts of all swift knowledge!

Thank you!

Amanda
Harbury Swift Project

Dick Newell

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Aug 15, 2025, 2:51:15 PMAug 15
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No one has done an objective test comparing boxes with and without landing strips. Maybe someone needs to do that.
But we all have opinions - my opinion is that most times a landing strip is not needed. The one exception may be an entrance facing vertically downwards. I prefer entrances that face obliquely downwards as they are aligned with the direction that the birds enter and leave. Certainly boxes like this are very successful and I doubt very much that they would be more successful with a landing strip.
Dick



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Gill Stacey

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Aug 15, 2025, 4:29:58 PMAug 15
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Hi Amanda

Peak Boxes have landing strips on their bottom entry boxes. Swifts certainly seems to like them – I’ve now got five pairs of swifts nesting after putting the boxes up six years ago. 

Gill

Stroud Swift Group

Amanda Randall

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Aug 18, 2025, 6:16:04 PMAug 18
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Thank you, Dick. I will pass on your comments. I don't think the boxes have been purchased yet, so they have time to sort that.
Best wishes 
Amanda 

Amanda Randall

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Aug 18, 2025, 6:18:58 PMAug 18
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Thanks, Gill! That fits with Dick's comments too, so useful to know. I will pass on both your replies to the person who asked me.

Best wishes 
Amanda 

Alistair

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Aug 19, 2025, 5:45:44 AMAug 19
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The other thing is too long a landing strip may give predators a chance to hang on while trying to get swifts….

Alistair

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