Commemorating Aerial Acrobats of Suffolk: Swifts
In the picturesque county of Suffolk, a feathered spectacle is about to unfold as swifts return from their African sojourn every May. These agile birds, known as Suffolk swifts, are renowned for their incredible flight abilities, never touching the ground even during sleep.
To help support these aerial marvels, here are some effective steps based on recent conservation efforts and expert advice:
1. Install Swift nest boxes in suitable places: Swifts prefer nest sites high up, often under eaves or in crevices close to their existing nesting areas. Installing nest boxes on warm, south or south-west facing walls at least 5 meters above the ground can create attractive breeding spots.
2. Join local Swift conservation initiatives: Groups like Walmer and Deal Action for Swifts and other regional organizations promote Swift conservation by installing nest boxes and providing advice. Engaging with such groups can help you get guidance specific to Suffolk and may also provide opportunities to purchase approved nest boxes or learn through events.
3. Monitor and document Swift activity: Swifts tend to return to the same nesting sites each year. By observing and recording when Swifts are present, you can help conservationists build a better picture of their nesting distribution, improving nest box targeting efforts. Swift Awareness Week events often include monitoring advice and activities.
4. Create a Swift-friendly environment: Swifts feed on insects caught in flight, so avoiding pesticides and fostering insect-friendly gardens around your property supports their food supply. Also, maintaining open airspaces around nest boxes helps Swifts to access their nests easily.
5. Ensure boxes mimic natural conditions: Swift nest boxes should be dark inside to simulate natural nest holes and have an internal depth and entrance size appropriate for Swifts (entrance hole about 65 mm wide and 30 mm high, and an internal depth of around 15-20 cm).
Community groups like those in Debenham and Sudbury have taken conservation a step further by installing nest box cameras to share footage of nesting birds and generate interest, sometimes leading to swift streets.
If you want more detailed installation guidance or specific nest box suppliers in Suffolk, contacting local wildlife organizations or the RSPB would be beneficial.
In addition, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Suffolk Bird Group, provides advice on swift box placement and supplies sets with call systems for community buildings and schools. This year, Felixstowe library had a second nest box used, following the use of the first one last year.
St John's church in Bury St Edmunds has a belfry box with 58 out of 60 spaces occupied by swifts. The use of sound systems alongside nest boxes, playing calls to attract swifts, has also proven effective.
It's important to note that juvenile swifts may investigate new nesting sites but will not return to breed until they are three or four years old. Everyone can help swifts by logging sightings on Swift Mapper or through Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service.
The Wildlife Trusts advocate for the ban against neonicotinoids, a harmful insecticide, due to its impact on swifts, house martins, and swallows, as they are reliant on a plentiful supply of aerial insects.
By following these steps and engaging in local conservation efforts, you can contribute to the preservation of these remarkable birds, ensuring their continued presence in the skies of Suffolk for generations to come.
- To support the biodiversity of Suffolk swifts in your home-and-garden, consider installing Swift nest boxes that resemble their natural nesting conditions, positioning them at least 5 meters above ground on warm, south or south-west facing walls.
- For a more comprehensive understanding of swift conservation and to gain access to approved nest boxes or guidance specific to Suffolk, join local Swift conservation initiatives like Walmer and Deal Action for Swifts or the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who offer advice, events, and resources for homeowners.
