community

Second fitting day – 10 more swift nest boxes!

On the 16th August 2021, S6 Swifts ran their second swift next box fitting day.

Today we fitted 11 more swift boxes in Hillsborough, Walkley and Loxley. Like last time, there were mostly Double Boxes so added up to homes for 18 pairs of swifts! One person even went for two Double boxes fitted on the front of her house, and we fitted several with the ‘bat back’ option which has an added bat roosting chamber behind the box.

Once again thanks to our fitter, Jan. Thankfully it was a much cooler day than last time!

We were joined by Nicola and Fran from newly-formed S11 Swifts for part of the day. They’d come along to have a taster of swift box fitting and to have a chat about their plans for the group. We’re really pleased to see a new group taking shape and would really like every part of Sheffield to have its own swift group! We know the demand and interest is there because we receive enquiries from all over the city.

We’ve got another fitting day next week and will then plan for another one in September. We need to think about moving into ‘winter mode’ and also ensuring our project is sustainable so we don’t burn out. Emma is still determined to get to 100 boxes and we’ve ‘only’ done 21 so far…

  • Jan ready to fit a Single swift nest box in Walkley
  • Two Double nest boxes with built in bat roosting spaces in Hillsborough
  • Mel and Emma from S6 Swifts enjoying a chuckle with Nicola from S11 swifts
  • Two slightly different boxes – these are woodcrete and were the customer’s own boxes.
  • Jan fitting a Single swift nest box in Walkley
  • The special ‘bat back’ bat roosting space addition to the Peak Boxes Double swift nest box
  • Spotted! We didn’t fit these but were glad to spot these RSPB swift boxes on a house in Walkley. Don’t they look great?
  • Nicola and Fran from new group, S11 Swifts
  • Swift nest boxes fitted by S6 Swifts Sheffield so far!

Off to a flying start! Our first 10 boxes fitted

On the 19th July 2021, S6 Swifts ran a successful pilot scheme to supply and fit swift boxes on houses in the S6 postcode area of Sheffield

Today we fitted our first 10 boxes. Lots of people opted for Double Boxes (and even one Triple!) meaning we installed safe and cosy homes for up to 16 pairs of swifts! Big thanks to super-fitter Jan for calmly coping with whatever the houses of S6 threw at him, not to mention the sweltering temperature.

The highlight of the day was standing chatting outside a lady’s house in Walkley about how long it would take for swifts to notice her new nest box and seeing a swift fly in straight under her eaves. So they were already nesting! But at least when the babies fledge and return to Sheffield next year the there will be one more home for them.

It was just so enjoyable to be out in the community, chatting to people about these wonderful birds.

We’ll now do a bit of a review of how it went and hopefully come up with some ideas to iron out teething problems/plan how the scheme will operate in future. But we already have 15 more people wanting swift boxes so certainly feeling the snowball effect!

  • Box 1: Double Box in Hillsborough
  • Box 2: Double Box in Hillsborough
  • Box 6: A Double Box in Walkley
  • Emma with the window posters we asked people to put up
  • Box 8: Single Box in Walkley
  • Box 10: Jan looks pleased with himself and this super Triple Box in Wisewood
  • Jan getting to grips with the super duper Triple Box
  • Box 3: A climb up to dizzying heights for this Single Box in Hillsborough
  • Box 9: Another Double Box in Hillsborough/Wadsley