Earlier this year, swift boxes were installed in the belfry of St Michael and All Angels Church, Bampton.
A local resident, Fiona Clark, initiated and partially funded the project. Stuart McFadzean, a swift expert for Mid Devon Wildlife group has built and positioned the boxes in Bampton. A recording of Swifts calling was set up to encourage nesting.
Six Swift families used the boxes this summer and there are plans to continue the project next year and to try a webcam in one of the boxes.
Some background:
Nest boxes in church belfries have proved to be very successful, resulting in some substantial new colonies. There are about 16,000 churches and chapels in England, many with a suitable belfry. So there is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to halt the decline of Swifts
The advantages of church belfries are that they are high, out of the way, and Swifts seem to like nesting there. One of the things that Swifts like is a degree of seclusion. The louvres in front of a Swift box in the belfry provide this.
Our project:
An initial visit allowed the team to inspect the tower and site. We had the chance to ask lots of questions. We agreed at PCC to go ahead with the project and soon plans were drawn up, measurements made and we waited a few weeks before fitting. On the day, carrying up the boxes, assembling them and placing were all completed expertly. An electronic “caller” was added a week later to simulate the sound Swifts make as they fly around their nests.
We worked with the charity Action for Swifts. They provide downloadable guidance for boxes in church belfries or in residential settings, and there are more case studies of church projects and other information about Swifts and churches on their website.
