Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 24, 2019 12:51:41 GMT
Thank you Sue and Kathy 
Sammi,
I don't see why that would be a problem, Swifts "natural" nest sites is under roof tiles / gaps in the eves.
So I don't see why a box on roof would be a problem.
Have a look at the bristol swift website, He started off with 1 swift nest now as 15 pairs breeding, I have been emailing him over the last few days and he suggested painting inside of my box black.
With my box not being massive and hole being at front he said they like it dark and light will get in decent amount by painting it black inside it helps with that problem and more chance of being successful.
He as a few "smaller" swift boxes and they only had a 30% success rate over his longer boxes that had a 70% so in 2017 he painted 3 of his "smaller" boxes black inside and left 3 normal by end of the year all 3 of the ones painted black was used and only 1 of the unpainted.
So if you go for a box with hole at front rather than underneath and it isn't a big box paint it black inside because it will really up your chances of a nest by the looks of it.
quote from the site
Swifts seem to prefer to nest in as dark a recess as possible, actively seeking out places which seem pitch black to us. So I painted the interiors in 3 of my boxes black to trial in 2017. I chose my smaller box designs as historically they only had a 30% occupancy rate, compared to my longer boxes which have an occupancy rate closer to 70%. Although these smaller boxes are regularly visited by prospecting swifts they are rarely used as nest sites. I’ve wondered if this is because they are too bright inside compared to my longer boxes. So in readiness for the 2017 season I painted the interiors of 2 corner boxes and 1 Zeist box black inside, using a matt black emulsion. For comparison 3 similar boxes were left unpainted. At the end of 2017 season I noted all 3 boxes with black interiors were occupied, whereas only 1 of the unpainted boxes was used.
His site as tons of information and he's been studying these birds for 13 years and now as 15 breeding pairs.
Site is here - www.bristolswifts.co.uk/
You could always email him sammi and ask for his opinion he is very helpful and helped me alot over emails
Just fill in the contact us part of the website he is pretty quick on replying to you
Sammi,
I don't see why that would be a problem, Swifts "natural" nest sites is under roof tiles / gaps in the eves.
So I don't see why a box on roof would be a problem.
Have a look at the bristol swift website, He started off with 1 swift nest now as 15 pairs breeding, I have been emailing him over the last few days and he suggested painting inside of my box black.
With my box not being massive and hole being at front he said they like it dark and light will get in decent amount by painting it black inside it helps with that problem and more chance of being successful.
He as a few "smaller" swift boxes and they only had a 30% success rate over his longer boxes that had a 70% so in 2017 he painted 3 of his "smaller" boxes black inside and left 3 normal by end of the year all 3 of the ones painted black was used and only 1 of the unpainted.
So if you go for a box with hole at front rather than underneath and it isn't a big box paint it black inside because it will really up your chances of a nest by the looks of it.
quote from the site
Swifts seem to prefer to nest in as dark a recess as possible, actively seeking out places which seem pitch black to us. So I painted the interiors in 3 of my boxes black to trial in 2017. I chose my smaller box designs as historically they only had a 30% occupancy rate, compared to my longer boxes which have an occupancy rate closer to 70%. Although these smaller boxes are regularly visited by prospecting swifts they are rarely used as nest sites. I’ve wondered if this is because they are too bright inside compared to my longer boxes. So in readiness for the 2017 season I painted the interiors of 2 corner boxes and 1 Zeist box black inside, using a matt black emulsion. For comparison 3 similar boxes were left unpainted. At the end of 2017 season I noted all 3 boxes with black interiors were occupied, whereas only 1 of the unpainted boxes was used.
His site as tons of information and he's been studying these birds for 13 years and now as 15 breeding pairs.
Site is here - www.bristolswifts.co.uk/
You could always email him sammi and ask for his opinion he is very helpful and helped me alot over emails
Just fill in the contact us part of the website he is pretty quick on replying to you