Swift Awareness Week and Swifts at WWT Slimbridge

19 June 2018

Swifts are a familiar species here at WWT Slimbridge, we expect to see large numbers migrating north in the Spring and often spot them from mid April. We usually have large feeding flocks over the reserve in the summer, presumably birds from local towns and villages. They rely on wetlands to find their insect prey and wetlands is something we do! Arguably, although reliant on our homes and buildings to nest Swifts could qualify as a wetland bird.

The worrying decline in the Swift population over recent years urged us to help them with nest sites as local towns and villages don't seem to be offering the same nesting opportunities as we 'tidy up' our buildings.

A cross departmental project was undertaken at WWT Slimbridge, teaming up with Craftsmen Alex Bond and Assistant Facilities Manager Craig Hardman the plan was to create a suitable nest box and install it using a hired 60ft reach MEWP (mobile elevated work platform). Reserve volunteer Bob Radford kindly raised funds to pay for the materials and machinery hire for this project, he also came up with a swift call sounds system which has been installed on the building below the nest box. A small amp and outdoor speakers were used along with a small motorbike battery, to keep it topped up an outdoor PV panel is connected to recharge the battery from any light that it can gather.

The calls are played morning and evening to hopefully attract them in. As for nest boxes we drew up various designs using existing plans from the internet. Alex came up with a design that we thought could work for this site. I've called it the 'Slimbridge Bond Swift Hotel'.

After various on site safety inspections, risk assessment and advice we installed the box in May. It's worth pointing out that I was already MEWP trained for reserve tree work so it was rather straightforward. We positioned the machine and tested that it wouldn't frighten the flamingos or disturb the nesting Crane (which now has a chick on the Rushy Pen) we spent a day fitting it into position. The story unfolds in pictures.

Alex setting up the three section box.

Nest cup lined with feathers

Almost ready

Craig Hardman looking after ground safety

Alex fitting stainless steel screws

Another section is fitted (we returned to the ground for each section)

A Swift eye view from underneath.

Another view of the inside sections

Fitting the face and final section

Front face

All ready for Swifts

View from the ground

Daylight powered speaker system (next two).

In addition to the 'Slimbridge Bond Swift Hotel', we've also fitted five John Stimspon 'Zeist' type boxes to the new 5 Acre barn. Two of which were kindly donated by Tony Durkin. See link at the bottom.

Speaker system inside the barn set up on a pulley, using two speakers we change them over at the end of each day as they are recharged. Reserve warden, Scott Petrek has loaned us his speakers for the summer.

Tube speaker that is placed inside the bag, Swift calls on a memory stick are played.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in this little project, it may take time for this to work, it may not work at all, but it's worth a try. It was great to work so closely with enthusiastic and helpful staff from other departments and tap into their skills, volunteer Bob was very pro-active in making this happen.

I think the Swifts would love it here, it's a very short commute to feed, it commands spectacular views and offers the cosiest place to rear a family. If you see any homeless Swifts, do send them our way.

Martin J McGill (and Alex Bond)