S6 Swifts, as part of the Sheffield Swift Network, are asking if you can help record your swift sightings and swift nests. We have developed a comprehensive guide and an easy to use form for you to complete here.
If we know where they are, we have a far better chance in protecting them. Please report anything you see, whether big or small, confirmed or just suspected.
Patrick Amber and Jan-Erik Bullet who made the fantastic swift for the Sheffield Swift Network’s recent petition presentation at the Sheffield Town Hall will be hosting 2 workshops, making a Scream of Swifts! All swifts made will be used for SSN’s forthcoming publicity and campaign events.
They will be making swifts out of willow, tissue paper and paint. Both adults and children are very welcome.
The events are taking place on Sunday 15th and Sunday 22nd January, 10am to 2pm, Abbeyfield Park, 30 Abbeyfield Road, Sheffield. Please come along – no previous experience necessary and the more the merrier! We at S6 Swifts will also be there.
Video recording will be taking place for promotional purposes.
Visit A Scream of Swifts for more information and book a place here!
This year, S6 Swifts joined forces with other Sheffield swift groups to form the Sheffield Swift Network. We have been extremely busy as a result, working with a broader Sheffield team to champion swifts on several fronts. We’re still working to save swifts on a local level, but if you’re interested in the work of SSN, you can visit the website here.
We’re very humbled to be the subject of a short film made about us by the SRWT. You can view it here.
S6 Swifts’ recent fitting of swift boxes at Malin Bridge School led to alot of media interest. On Friday we were featured in the lunchtime and evening bulletins of BBC Look North, together with Ian from the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and some very enthusiastic pupils! Thank you Look North for such a lovely article. I would post the link to iPlayer but it’s expired!
We were also featured in the Guardian on the same day in a fantastic article here. The real focus is on the amazing Chet from S17 Dore & Totley Swifts. Definitely worth a read!
S6 Swifts joined the other members of the newly formed Sheffield Swift Network at the very first Sheffield Swift Summit hosted by the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust!
We were amongst the guest speakers and (hopefully) entertained everyone with our story so far and our plans for the future. It was an enjoyable evening had by all and we look forward to seeing you all again at the second summit next year!
We are very excited to be a part of the inaugural Sheffield Swift Summit, hosted by the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. This is an evening dedicated to swifts with special guest Sarah Gibson, author of Swifts and Us. You will also find out what our newly formed Sheffield Swift Network have been up to and plans for the future. S6 Swifts will also be speaking! Details are below and we hope to see you there!
After today’s fittings we have managed to top 260 new nest spaces and it’s all thanks to each and every one of you that have taken part in our 9 month long nest box scheme that was only supposed to run for a couple of weeks.
We are keeping everything crossed that swifts will adopt the homes you are offering. These things take time but it’s just great that we’re all giving them a helping hand right now when they really need it.
Additional, encouraging insects in your gardens with insect friendly plants, and refraining from using weedkillers will all help boost food sources for these birds, and there’s plenty of information out there on how you can do that.
In the meantime, I’ve being doing the map again! Again – please think about plotting your box on the swift mapper if you have a moment, and also, please don’t hesitate to plot resident swifts in general. We’re looking to record existing swift colonies more formally so that we can boost initiatives to protect them – so watch this space!
Today we visited Malin Bridge School who have joined the movement in trying to help our lovely swifts!
We fitted a total of 10 nest spaces in the form of 3 bespoke apex boxes that were fund raised by the very generous parents and local community, and a further box thanks to the Sheffield Vulcan Rotary Club. It was a wonderful afternoon and there was plenty of excitement from the children and teachers alike.
Thank you also to our newly elected Green councillor, Henry Nottage for coming along to learn more about our group and to Ian of the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust for his support too! And for Jan of Nest Box Installations for his experience and skills up a very tall ladder!
S6 Swifts Sheffield 