Attracting Swifts
©Robert Booth
Love Swifts? Create your own colony!
Attracting Swifts is a fascinating journey. External Swift boxes are a cost effective choice and there are many different designs to choose from, each one specially designed to meet the needs of Swifts. An oblong hole, 28mm x 60mm is perfect for Swifts, yet too small for Starlings. You could even make your own!
Swift bricks and internal nest box systems have a very high take up, they are a permanent solution and maintenance free. Find out more about these perfect options at Action for Swifts.
Where do I put my Swift box?
Swift boxes need to be high up with unobstructed access to the entrance (clear of trees and wires etc). They approach the nest at high speed and do not stop before they enter like garden birds. When they leave the nest, they can drop slightly before taking off to the skies.
When a young Swift leaves the nest it gets only one chance - they are completely independent from their parents the moment they depart, and waste no time setting off for Africa. These first flights are risky. A clear exit route, at least 4.5m high, gives them the best chance at a successful first flight.
Waves of Swifts
Swifts arrive in the UK in waves. The first wave, arriving from late-April/early May are established breeders that already have a nest site.
The second wave arrive from the end of May and are 2-3 year old birds looking to find a nest and a mate for the first time.
Third wave birds arrive in July and are the youngest of the arrivals, finding their place in a colony and staying for only a short time. They may roost in a box, but won't usually build a nest until they are older.
When attracting Swifts, it is the second wave you are looking to bring in. Playing attraction calls is a highly efficient way of drawing Swifts in to your boxes. Swifts are colony nesting birds and are attracted to calls of their own kind, so playing calls reinforces the idea that there is already an established colony on your property that is worth investigating. Click the link below to find out more about attraction calls and to download a successful playlist.
Click here to learn more about attraction calls.