2 Swift boxes funded by Coasts/Heaths NL here in Southwold are now used. The easiest way to boost local Swift populations is to add more nesting space, so 10 further nest boxes have been donated to create a significant colony @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Apologies for straying off topic but @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social also provide nest boxes for Suffolk’s rarer breeding species that will take to them. Fantastic to hear that Spotted Flycatchers have taken to one recently fitted and have young close to fledging. #SuffolkBirding

No signs of Swifts using these nest boxes on the Constable Health Centre in East Bergholt. House Sparrows are breeding here though & this species is red-listed too, their behaviour can help Swifts find a nest site too @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

7 Swift nest boxes along with a 240V call system have been installed on the Quakers Meeting House in #Leiston, Suffolk. SOSSwifts have more Community Sets available for prominent elevations of public buildings around Suffolk @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Debenham is bonkers with Swifts currently & Trevor Stutter has captured this image of a busy nest box, one of many used in the town. Adding nest boxes where Swifts breed helps boost local populations, these are on the church @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

JT, our volunteer nest box maker with another car load for Suffolk. The flat lidded Swift box is one of 10 going to #Southwold to add to a budding colony. SOSSwifts have also just delivered 3 boxes to #Nayland & 6 to #Lavenham for colonies there too @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Swift conservation works but can take time. This location was far from an existing colony but installed nest boxes & played calls May-July for several years until found. There is no reason why it can’t be repeated anywhere. #SuffolkBirding @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

Great to see these Swift nest boxes on Old Newton Primary School today, near #Stowmarket, decorated by their pupils. House Sparrows are exploring them, they’re red-lasted too and can light the way for Swifts to find them @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Bramfield House School installed 8 Swift boxes early 2024 & now have 4 boxes being used, the start of a significant Swift colony for their pupils to marvel at. Thanks to a kind donation 8 more Swift nest boxes are being added @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Fantastic conservation here at this north Suffolk location where 6 of their Swift nest boxes are active + over 30 House Martin nests on this and surrounding buildings, all from nothing. They were able to create a super mud splat for the HMs who colonised @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

SOSSwifts have donated this Swift Community Set to Abbeygate 6th form in Bury St Edmunds. Swifts’ calls are being played to help attract the younger Swifts above looking for a future place to breed. Swift conservation works. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Woodbridge Swifts have a walk and talk tomorrow evening, Sunday 5th July meeting at the Brook St car park IP12 1BE at 7pm. Learn about Swifts, their plight and how easy it is to help them. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Swift nesting sites are so easily lost, most folk don’t even know they have them nesting in a cranny. Quick reactions & a positive response here means that Swifts can still access, the nest entrance is being maintained & a nest box is being added for breeding space. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

I mix my Swift volunteering in with work/family commitments, I do what I can when I can, no de-railing. I just stated clearly how I disagreed with you re cog-bias, no need for SE nest boxes & green washing, and didn’t understand something about flames. Please do critique our literature, attached 1/2

Interesting Swift mitigation here in Westleton where non-native Grey Squirrels have invaded the loft disturbing Swifts nesting on top of the truss rafters. There is little likelihood of Swifts breeding there this year but adding nest boxes provides extra breeding space for the future #SuffolkBirding

Undoubtedly issues with insect populations throughout the whole of Swifts’ journey, SOSSwifts promote insect friendly gardening with our guidance. I don’t share the pessimism for not bothering with nest boxes in the SE of the UK when our observations & data are that they work. Swifts need nest sites

Oh I very much doubt that anything we say will convince you of anything. SOSSwifts will continue help those wanting to provide the additional nesting space mentioned in the BTO/JNCC summary and don’t worry, I’ll update you with our 2026 data in time and leave you with our (unbiased) data up to 2025.

A car load of nest boxes for our SOSSwifts campaign. These are destined for existing colonies in Bury St Edmunds and Wenhaston to help boost local populations, also Community Sets to Woodbridge Rugby Club & West Suffolk College. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding

That’s a shame. SOSSwifts doesn’t share your pessimism, we have demonstrated that we can create and expand Swift colonies by providing nest space, a video of one example attached. I’ll donate the Swift nest boxes to Bramfield House School where they’ve just had their first box used. #UKBirding

Yes, BTO says main drivers of decline uncertain but from what we have seen and achieved here I can say that nest site loss is the primary cause when we visit locations where Swifts have disappeared. The use of anti-bird/bat/insect eaves combing during re-roofing especially, image. Also our data.

Swifts love to nest in the nooks and crannies of older buildings, here is one squeezing beneath a Southwold roof tile to breed. The re-roofing of these older roofs to modern standards causes many Swifts to be blocked out. @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Newly hatched Swiftlets via a nest box camera, technology has come along leaps and bounds. These 2 should fledge in around 40 days & migrate to the Congo returning May 2027.Swifts are slow to mature, not breeding for several years so might not land until 2029 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #UKBirding

Add nest space and wait, it can take some time but conservation works. Swifts nest in the gable box above and now after a 4 year wait House Martins have found the nest cup beneath. The 2 species will nest close to each other and co-exist without bother. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

Time and time again we survey locations where ‘we used to have Swifts, they just disappeared!’. It is common to find this, old roofs that have been re-tiled to modern building standards with anti-bird combing installed under the rolls of the tiles. Swifts are simply blocked out. #SuffolkBirds

2nd Swift egg now laid in this Framlingham nest box. Swifts sometimes lay 3 and 4 eggs isn’t unknown. There are still many breeding Swifts still to return and plenty of time for them to do so. #SuffolkBirds @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

A #Swift Community Set of 7 nest boxes + call system has gone to Red Oak Primary School in #Lowestoft for their maintenance team to install, funded by kind donations. We have more Sets available for prominent elevations of public buildings @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social

Great to see the first #Swift egg laid today at this Framlingham location, 7 days after the Swifts paired up. #Framingham has a super Swift population nesting in roofs and around the castle, magnificent that they have installed so many nest boxes too there. Swift conservation works. #SuffolkBirding

It takes a huge effort to keep up with the demand for our nest boxes. Volunteer JT is holding the 1000th Swift box he’s made the last 2 yrs. There’s also a Spotted Flycatcher nest box in the corner, 1 of 30 going to suitable Suffolk habitats @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social

There’s going to be a lot of this over the next few weeks, Swifts returning to our nest boxes to breed. They’ve been flying for 8 months and can rest for a long time in nest boxes after landing. Tricky to know they’re back without cameras @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social

Great to see this #Swift Community Set going up today in #Peasenhall. SOSSwifts have donated 8 Swift boxes + 240V call system for their Methodists Chapel. Many Swifts nested beneath the tiles back in living memory, prior to its renovation @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social