Swifts need our help

swifts need our help!

E39MSport wrote: »

I'll have to wait until next weekend

Thats OK. There will be more about.

Mark

tricky D

Last night I was lamenting that our martins hadn't returned. We thought the whole mini-colony hadn't made it which made me quite unhappy as I love them bombing around our garden and estate. As if by magic, there they all are today busy making nests on the half dozen or so houses. Just hope everything goes to the script as they have to completely rebuild the nest unlike last year when it stayed intact over winter.:)

Traonach

Traonach wrote: »

I passed the catholic church in Hacketstown (Carlow) today. I often see swifts around the church but there was none today. I looked closely and they are after putting up two wooden falcon cut outs to scare the birds away. Disgraceful.

The falcon-cut outs are not being put up this year. Had a talk with one of the priests. I counted loads of swifts flying around the church today:), while last year when the falcon-cut outs were there the swifts stayed away.

swifts need our help!

Well done!

Mark

le la rat

MOD NOTE: Enjoy a break from the forum

swifts need our help!

What is trolling?

E39MSport

Deliberately stirring it for a reaction.

V Bull

At least 80++ Swifts over the ECNR, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow today, mixing with Swallows & Martins, brilliant sight, the sky was buzzing and so was the marsh with insects..

E39MSport

I'm up on the roof tomorrow to set things up.

Mark, if I go silent on here you're to blame (thank)

swifts need our help!

photos please!

Nice flight photos.

swifts need our help!

I hope E39 is OK.

Here's a new web page I made to show the history of my nest boxes
http://saveourswifts.co.uk/marksnestboxes.htm

Mark

E39MSport

It's up along with speaker.

Photos tomorrow.

Is it okay that I don't have a cup in the box?

swifts need our help!

yes it's OK but you will speed breeding by having one in the box.

E39MSport

Mark,

I just went outside and the side of the house that the speaker is facing has a fair number of Swifts flying about. I'd say about 10+. Max I have ever seen here is 2 together

Looks like the lure is having an effect. I don't want to waste their time so to speak though.

Are there any drawbacks to playing the lure?

cubix

Any photos E39

swifts need our help!

What were the swifts doing? If they are buzzing the house get excited.

There is no downside from playing the lure. Breeders will not leave their nest sites to come to your nest boxes but non breeders will

Mark

E39MSport wrote: »

Mark,

I just went outside and the side of the house that the speaker is facing has a fair number of Swifts flying about. I'd say about 10+. Max I have ever seen here is 2 together

Looks like the lure is having an effect. I don't want to waste their time so to speak though.

Are there any drawbacks to playing the lure?

E39MSport

They weren't buzzing the house in the way that I've seen swallows do.

But they did come quite close. Great to see so many of them.

Fingers crossed.

pic: -



speaker is in a placcy bag by the base of the chimney

edit: My chimney is getting quite busy !

swifts need our help!

Should be OK there. Only one box? Swifts may fight over it.

Mark

Finnbar01

Why would you scare away the bangers? Don't the bangers need somewhere to roost as well. Won't they be the next batch to produce future generations?

E39MSport

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Should be OK there. Only one box? Swifts may fight over it.

Mark

I'm open to more boxes but the rest of the house is too low. The chimney is the only place I can think of for swift box and that side is the sheltered side.
First every chimney extension

Thats a good point actually. I could install a length of wood but the outer ones would be very exposed.

swifts need our help!

Who is scaring bangers? Bangers/non breeders sleep while flying. Yes they will be the next generation that breeds

Finnbar01 wrote: »

Why would you scare away the bangers? Don't the bangers need somewhere to roost as well. Won't they be the next batch to produce future generations?

cubix

E39 i think I seen a design where the ones I made were stacked on top of each other. IF you moved your sat cable over a bit you'd probally get another 4/5 on the chimmney all depending how tall it is.

The other half wasnt mad about having the boxes on the front of the house so have got three down the side with the speaker wedge under the sofit & down pipe. Might be just as well as I have ordered a pair of nest cups to put up beside the alarm box at the front over to the right, where no one will be giving out about the mess. Will get them up before she comes home, wont even notice them, bamboosle her with tea and get the corrie on before she knows whats hit her

swifts need our help!

Very well done. For the front of the house you could put faux brick panelling on the boxes

I better get your lure in the post

swifts need our help!

I've lost count now ... How many people in the south have got swift boxes up on your house or elsewhere?

Mark

cubix

Neighbours will definitley think Ive lost the plot, put the nest cups up at the front today. Cant get over how small the pair are when compared with swift boxes.

swifts need our help!

E39 front entrances would be better for your situation

E39MSport

^^ okay - ta.

I've switched off the CD this morning because the swallows in my porch were constantly alarmed. Since I turned it off they have calmed down.

Any comment on that?

Cheers,
Ken

swifts need our help!

Shouldnt really affect swallows

E39MSport

They continued to be in a strange mood today. I was dived when I stuck my head out the window for some air. The male saw me a second time standing at the window and went for me again only to bump into the window.

They were spendng a lot of time chattering in the porch so maybe just jiggy time.

I'll let them calm down then play it again in a day or so.

Thanks Mark.

swifts need our help!

The use of concaves comes up all the time. The reason to put one in is
1. to give the swifts somewhere to nest
2. a place to lay eggs.

It's well documented now that swifts will lay eggs and make the nest around the eggs like this ...