Nick Mallalieu shares an update on a project to boost swift numbers in the area through a collaboration with St David’s Church in Ashprington.
We have now installed eight swift boxes in St David’s Belfry, together with a swift tweeter or attractor. You may just hear the tweeter from the ground. It is currently timed to operate between about 06:00 to 20:30 and hopefully will attract some new swifts to the belfry of our lovely parish church.
Special thanks to William Carlyon who stepped in to take on the carpentry and engineering lead. I just couldn’t have completed this project without him. Also many thanks to the support of Churchwarden Laurence Green and to Kathi Green.
Please remember that the swallows you should soon be seeing are a different species to swifts. Swallows are close relatives to House Martins, which are also in sharp decline. Please don’t disturb House Martins’ nests if they honour you by nesting under your eaves.
Thank you so much for those who contributed to the donations to support this project. If we can see some success, which might take several years, I will be considering additional nest boxes, subject to the Church’s agreement. Yes, you have guessed it – we will need more financial support to do this!
For any enquiries or suggestions regarding the project, please contact Nick Mallalieu via email to nick.mallalieu@btinternet.com.
July 2022 update
So what news of the project this summer? Nick Mallalieu reports that:
“They have been very interested in the “Tweeter” but I fear have not nested in the boxes. However the next generation born this year and fledging now may return to nest in the belfry next year.”
Let us hope so! Meanwhile, here’s a short video of the swifts in the vicinity of St David’s Church, filmed on 15th July 2022.
Images and video provided by Nick Mallalieu.