Swifts - heat

[Swifts (SOS)]

Good morning all

Appreciate in the west of the UK you’ve had the heat longer than us. 

Any reports from camera nest boxes of nesting problems please?

None from Suffolk yet

Cheers Ed 

SuffolkBirdGroup.org

Suffolk Bird Group (SBG) is committed to protecting your privacy as a member.  If you share your contact details we will keep them on a secure spreadsheet to enable us to fulfil our responsibilities to provide you with the benefits of membership.  We value your support and will not pass on information about you to anyone outside SBG.  If you would prefer not to receive future information from SBG please inform us by emailing communications@suffolkbirdgroup.org

[Dick Newell]

2 days ago, 2 of the 3 chicks in this webcam leapt out of the entrance. The first one went, then a Magpie appeared at the entrance and the second one leapt. The nest box is on the east side, but doubtless got too warm from heat in the loft.

Dick

Suffolk Bird Group (SBG) is committed to protecting your privacy as a member.  If you share your contact details we will keep them on a secure spreadsheet to enable us to fulfil our responsibilities to provide you with the benefits of membership.  We value your support and will not pass on information about you to anyone outside SBG.  If you would prefer not to receive future information from SBG please inform us by emailing communi...@suffolkbirdgroup.org

--
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/E922C4DA-2364-4565-B85D-6D8AE4B8D875%40suffolkbirdgroup.org.

[Tony Croft]

All ours are North facing so it's only the late evening sun strikes them...

Do sad you lost some chicks, they are so precious!

Still exceptionally warm but much cooler today thank goodness!

Best Regards
Tony

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1NrcBs6rnO_vxJcApxFo0hHb37x2HtLieb56rFdOM0YXA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Rowena Baxter]

So sad to hear about this Dick.  I'm glad I don't know what's going on in the nest boxes in the loft in Dry Drayton this year.  Bob kindly covered them in thick insulating foam last year, but the chicks will be tempted down the tunnel towards the entrance in this weather.  The heat in the loft builds up during the morning and is at its highest in the afternoon - the entrance holes face north-west, but still get full sun in the pm this time of year.

As soon as there's somewhere comfortable to sit here, you must come over.  I'll be in touch.

Rowena

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1NrcBs6rnO_vxJcApxFo0hHb37x2HtLieb56rFdOM0YXA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Zoe Crossley]

Hi all, 

Some interesting data from the heatwave in Suffolk over the last few days. 

We hit a temperature record of around 37 degrees in the shade which was rather unpleasant. I have occupied gable boxes on the north and south aspects of my property, the south is partially shaded meaning the bottom half is in the sun. The boxes are painted with solar thermal paint which in theory should also be reducing the heat absorption. I’ve never had any issues with chicks in these boxes which have been occupied since 2022 but due to the extreme weather forecasted decided to intervene this week. 

I hosed the box down at 15 min intervals all day and the internal box temperature didn’t exceed 28 degrees all day.  The chicks were comfortable, more so than I was as my house reached 31 degrees inside. 

The north facing box that was in the shade all day had the camera switched off as I didn’t want to add more heat to the box, but when I turned it back on at 9pm I could clearly see the the chicks were hot by the extreme gaping. That box was 38 degrees despite being in the shade all day, and by 9pm the outside temperature starting to drop. In hind site it might have been prudent to also hose down that box but with nesting house martins below I didn’t want to cause them any issues. 

The other first for my house is that 3/4 of the adults did not return to the boxes past midday on the day of the heatwave. They didn’t return until 8.30am the next morning looking exhausted. It’s been suggested perhaps they were navigating the numerous thunderstorms we had but I have never had parents not return to the chicks for a prolonged period during dry hot weather. 

Would love to hear others findings. 

Zoe 

Framlingham Swifts 

On 28 Jun 2026, at 11:54, Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1NrcBs6rnO_vxJcApxFo0hHb37x2HtLieb56rFdOM0YXA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts]

Really sorry to hear of the demise of these Cambridge swifts due to the heat. Be good to do an experiment on insulating the boxes in attic Cambridge systems.

I have 8 Cambridge systems boxes in my attic, so could run such an experiment. However I haven't found a temp display yet that I can read on the (cheap) cameras I use. If anyone can recommend one?

I have now a velux window in my attic which helps enormously. But I could still see if insulation keeps boxes cooler. 

Best Wishes,

Louise

 

      

 

Bolton & Bury Swifts

Facebook  Instagram  

House Martin Conservation

Bolton Green Umbrella

 

---

From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, 28 June 2026 09:53:45
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SLN] Swifts - heat

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1NrcBs6rnO_vxJcApxFo0hHb37x2HtLieb56rFdOM0YXA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Tony Croft]

So sad to loose any chicks...but the heat is just ridiculous this year...ours boxes  are on the North side of the house but it's still 36° even in the shade!

Best Regards

Tony

Sent from my HP Laptop

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/VI0P195MB3224878F524B6BC7131F3C32B1E92%40VI0P195MB3224.EURP195.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.

[Dick Newell]

I have just posted some good news on this subject here

Dick

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/VI0P195MB3224878F524B6BC7131F3C32B1E92%40VI0P195MB3224.EURP195.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.

[Louise at Bolton and Bury Swifts]

Good to know about those vented ridge tiles reducing heat in attics. Wish I'd had done when had new roof few years back..something for the future. 

Best Wishes,

Louise

 

      

 

Bolton & Bury Swifts

Facebook  Instagram  

House Martin Conservation

Bolton Green Umbrella

 

---

From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, 28 June 2026 15:07:55

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CALBhX1NB%2BsL_yPdg6jPUBGw9ZQj%3DKeO2SEzMLO2jS0UuLM75Sg%40mail.gmail.com.