Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 22, 2019 10:58:24 GMT
Kathy,
I don't know the full reason you are told to put feathers in the nest mould for them but it is a nest starter.
Maybe its cause swifts never land they spend most there live in the air sleeping in flight drinking in flight eatting in flight.
They have small weak legs that make it not good for them to land so there one of the few birds if not only bird that spents 10 months a year in the air (2 months they do land is in the nest for breeding season) so maybe the nest starter is to give them help with material rather than to think its an old nest?
Here is a website "Bristol swifts"
www.bristolswifts.co.uk/
He's been building his colony for 13 years and now as 15 nesting pairs, He trys everything new boxes new layouts inside and he as noticed by painting the box black inside that they like that more.
He thinks its cause they like it dark as possible to feel safe.
I have been painting my box black inside now before placing it, I have had a few emails back and forth with the owner of Bristol swifts and he as been kind enough to share alot info with me in regards to what to do with my box to give it the best chances of success so how can you not listen to someone whos spent 13 years studying these birds nest habits and now as 15 breeding pairs on his house right?
The best chance of attracting them is by playing a CD of there calls near the nest box, The sound of swifts screaming / calling attracts they to the nest area.
You can get CD here - www.swift-conservation.org/Shopping!.htm
Info off bristol swifts site when to play the swift calls
When to play Swift Calls CD/mp3
Swift calls can be played in the mornings and evenings on calm, dry days from May to July to good effect. However as there are normally three waves of swift arrivals these are the most effective times that I found to play the Swift Calls CD/mp3
The first wave. These normally arrive in the last week in April – early May and consist mainly of breeding adults returning to their traditional nest sites. It is difficult to attract these to a new site (box) as they are extremely site faithful, however displaced breeding adults will take up residency in new homes but it’s rare. You can play your CD/mp3 anytime from now but the chances of attracting any are slim.
The second wave. These start to arrive from the end of May and into the first half of June. These are the ones you are after. These are 2-3 year old birds looking for a nest site. They are definitely attracted by the CD/mp3 calls and will fly up to an investigate wherever the sound is coming from. Try and place your speakers as near as you can to your box and play it as loud as you can (with neighbours agreement). Play whenever the weather is calm. Avoid wet and windy days as swifts don’t prospect for new nest sites in bad weather. Best times to play your CD/mp3 is from 6 -11am and again from 8-10pm. If you’re lucky enough to attract a pair they will spend the rest of the summer building a new nest ready for next year.
The third wave. These arrive in the middle of July. They are yearlings returning for the first time. They are interested in joining a colony and will visit several in the local area to suss out the best ones. They might even enter one of your boxes, roosting in it until they leave in August, but they won’t start nest building until the following year. They are also attracted by the CD/mp3, so play as described above.
Sorry about the long reply with all the info just been researching into these birds alot over the last few days, Thanks for ben from the forum who put swift boxes up last summer and told me about the bristol swift site.
I don't know the full reason you are told to put feathers in the nest mould for them but it is a nest starter.
Maybe its cause swifts never land they spend most there live in the air sleeping in flight drinking in flight eatting in flight.
They have small weak legs that make it not good for them to land so there one of the few birds if not only bird that spents 10 months a year in the air (2 months they do land is in the nest for breeding season) so maybe the nest starter is to give them help with material rather than to think its an old nest?
Here is a website "Bristol swifts"
www.bristolswifts.co.uk/
He's been building his colony for 13 years and now as 15 nesting pairs, He trys everything new boxes new layouts inside and he as noticed by painting the box black inside that they like that more.
He thinks its cause they like it dark as possible to feel safe.
I have been painting my box black inside now before placing it, I have had a few emails back and forth with the owner of Bristol swifts and he as been kind enough to share alot info with me in regards to what to do with my box to give it the best chances of success so how can you not listen to someone whos spent 13 years studying these birds nest habits and now as 15 breeding pairs on his house right?
The best chance of attracting them is by playing a CD of there calls near the nest box, The sound of swifts screaming / calling attracts they to the nest area.
You can get CD here - www.swift-conservation.org/Shopping!.htm
Info off bristol swifts site when to play the swift calls
When to play Swift Calls CD/mp3
Swift calls can be played in the mornings and evenings on calm, dry days from May to July to good effect. However as there are normally three waves of swift arrivals these are the most effective times that I found to play the Swift Calls CD/mp3
The first wave. These normally arrive in the last week in April – early May and consist mainly of breeding adults returning to their traditional nest sites. It is difficult to attract these to a new site (box) as they are extremely site faithful, however displaced breeding adults will take up residency in new homes but it’s rare. You can play your CD/mp3 anytime from now but the chances of attracting any are slim.
The second wave. These start to arrive from the end of May and into the first half of June. These are the ones you are after. These are 2-3 year old birds looking for a nest site. They are definitely attracted by the CD/mp3 calls and will fly up to an investigate wherever the sound is coming from. Try and place your speakers as near as you can to your box and play it as loud as you can (with neighbours agreement). Play whenever the weather is calm. Avoid wet and windy days as swifts don’t prospect for new nest sites in bad weather. Best times to play your CD/mp3 is from 6 -11am and again from 8-10pm. If you’re lucky enough to attract a pair they will spend the rest of the summer building a new nest ready for next year.
The third wave. These arrive in the middle of July. They are yearlings returning for the first time. They are interested in joining a colony and will visit several in the local area to suss out the best ones. They might even enter one of your boxes, roosting in it until they leave in August, but they won’t start nest building until the following year. They are also attracted by the CD/mp3, so play as described above.
Sorry about the long reply with all the info just been researching into these birds alot over the last few days, Thanks for ben from the forum who put swift boxes up last summer and told me about the bristol swift site.