Nar Valley Ornithological Society

THE NarVOS SWIFT PROJECT

Getting started

2017

NarVOS member, Annie Bird put forward a proposal to help the Swift population in our area. The Swift towers that had been constructed and tried elsewhere in the country seemed too ambitious and expensive, so following discussion and consultation, a Swift box project was proposed and agreed by the NarVOS Committee. Ideas about where to site the boxes were considered, including churches etc., but finally it seemed that it would be possible at Abbey Farm, Flitcham. Edward Cross, who farms there, agreed to get involved and site visits were made and discussions about where to put them and how/where to use recordings of swift calls to help attract the birds which return to the village each year. Permissions were also needed from the Sandringham Estate and Natural England.

Edward would make the boxes himself (with help from some of his workers), using green oak. NarVOS would supply and fund the wiring, speakers and recordings. The latter being needed to encourage the local Swift population to investigate and take up residence. The recordings of Swifts screaming are quite loud so the boxes and speakers needed to be in an area not too near human habitation! Edward also agreed to provide a ‘Cherry Picker’ to install both the boxes, 8 in all, and the speaker equipment on a suitable barn wall in one of the farm yards.

Mick East, our NarVOS tech guy, ordered and assembled the technical equipment and a date was agreed for installation. On the day Mick was truly ‘Man of the Match’.

All guidance and advice we sought to help inform the project came from the excellent organisation “Action for Swifts” and we will notify them of progress. Their website is very helpful and contains advice for householders who can also help the Swift population. In all 8 nest boxes were installed and awaited tenants. It could take up to three years for swifts to move in.

Maybe 2021 will be the year.

Bequest

In 2017 NarVOS benefited from a bequest from the Estate of the late Julian Lawson a keen NarVOS member and supporter of the Society. The Committee decided to use some of Julian’s bequest to support the Swift project and to name the project in his memory.

Completion and official launch

In May this year (2018), the joint Swift box project between NarVOS and Abbey Farm, Flitcham was completed with 8 Swift nest boxes on a barn wall with a system of timed recordings of Swifts screaming via an MP3 player through speakers installed in the area. The sound is broadcast to encourage the Swifts to prospect the site and then to nest.

A number of NarVOS members attended the Abbey Farm, Flitcham Open Farm Sunday on 1st July 2018, courtesy of Edward Cross who farms there. We had been invited to have a presence there to ‘launch’ the Swift Project, funded in part, by a bequest from Julian Lawson’s Estate.

The NarVOS stand included a display of the Swift Project, which documented the various stages of clearing the proposed site of self-seeded Sycamores, building the boxes (a great job by Edward), installation of the sound system, with recordings to call the Swifts in, and finally installing the boxes themselves. The day went well, if a little hot, with ‘Swift cakes’ prepared by Annie being distributed to interested youngsters, not to mention Committee members looking after the stand.

There was lots of interest throughout the day and we were delighted that Olive, Julian's great friend, and Sally his housekeeper and her grandchildren, were able to attend. Chairman, Ian Black said a few words as the project was officially dedicated to Julian's memory.

We have already had reports of Swifts briefly inspecting the boxes although it was by now too late for them to nest this season. So we wait and hope any news or progress will be reported to us by the farmer and shared with the NarVOS community.

August 2018

NOTE: Abbey Farm, Flitcham has a free to use public bird hide courtesy of the farmer Edward Cross. The location of the swift boxes is in an area not open to the public and is a working area for the farm. If visiting the farm please do not enter these areas or search for the boxes. Hopefully, once the birds move in their presence will be enjoyed by all visitors to the area.

2019

Summer 2019 Swift Awareness Week.

NarVOS stall on Swaffham Market

In 2019, as part of Swift Awareness Week, NarVOS had a stall on the Swaffham Saturday Market. It had been advertised locally and Annie had put little houses in various willing local shop windows too.

Gil and Pam Brooking kindly lent us a large gazebo, and after a very early start for the assembly, we were ready for action. This was a team effort, as some of our group helped put up the gazebo, others helped man/woman the stall throughout the day. Quite a lot of local folks came to see us, have a chat, and some even committed to the cause further, by buying Swift nest boxes. Buyers included two local hostelries, so we hope they have been successful, we wait and see…

It was a good day, the sun shone, and the stall helped promote NarVOS as well. It was decided we might repeat the idea in another year. Indeed it was agreed for 2020, but we all know what happened there!

2020

During 2020, Edward Cross at Abbey Farm said that several of the returning Swift population were investigating the nest boxes at the end of their stay in Flitcham. As it can take several years for them to use them, we can but hope they will take up residence.

2021 - The Plan

In 2021, we will remain in contact with a range of organisations:

• Swift Conservation - online
• Action for Swifts - online
• Swifts Local Network - online
• Helping Swifts, Swallows and House Martins - Facebook
• Wings - a new, local group, set up to promote Swift issues in West Norfolk.

Other actions have been successful (see below) concerning developers, a positive step from Breckland, but we still wait to hear from West Norfolk Council.

In the coming year (2021) we hope to be able to:

• have another Market Stall
• collect information about existing nestboxes or sites
• publish and promote further information about Swifts
• encourage people to record and report populations to the RSPB survey
  
  It is encouraging to note the success and promotion of Swifts in other Communities.

For example: It will be interesting to follow the project in Edinburgh, which is hoping to become “Swift City.”
(BBC News article) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56009892

Swift Awareness Week 2021

On Saturday, July 10th 2021, NarVOS held a stall on Swaffham Market to promote the above. We were present from 8a.m. - 2.30p.m. The Market provided us with a gazebo and table, we just had the displays to consider. On sale were Swift nestboxes, books, badges and mobiles, information leaflets were free.

We had many local visitors to the stall who shared their stories and Alan Schpott gained a few more new members for us. Newer members and attendees included Andy Bullen (Facebook groups, WINGS and SOSSHS) who donated leaflets, and Richard Hill, the latter donating three of his hand–crafted Swift nestboxes for sale. Thanks to both of them. 

The sun didn’t exactly shine on the day, but at least it was dry, and some Swifts gave an aerial performance in the sky above us.  An enjoyable day.

Two local shops, Ceres Bookshop and Poppi’s Interiors both agreed to make a bird-related window display, so thanks to them and all who displayed posters throughout the town.

Swaffham is very lucky to have a returning population of Swifts and, as a declining species, they need protecting.

(Swift Awareness Week is a National Initiative and has a website SLN - Swifts Local Network)