With help from SoSswifts, Suffolk swifts continue to entrance us with their aerial acrobatics this summer.  

Every May there is much anticipation of swifts returning from their wintering grounds in Africa. Making an impressive migration, these birds never touch the ground, even sleeping in the air. Much to our delight, this year weather conditions were favourable, and swifts were seen around a week earlier than usual. By 2^nd May, 24 swifts were seen in Stowmarket rapidly increasing to 80 by 10^th May, thanks to our watchful swift group supporters, similar reports came in from across the county. 

Those with previously unoccupied nest boxes eagerly turned on the sound systems which have been installed alongside boxes to attract in swifts. Fine-tuned to mimic the natural calls of swifts and played in short bursts between 7am and 9am and from 7pm until dusk, the calls are important way of letting swifts know where there are nesting opportunities. 

Swifts traditionally nest under gaps roof tiles and tend to be nest site faithful. Nest boxes can provide additional sites to bolster existing colonies they are also invaluable if sites are lost as a result of roof repairs.  

Juveniles may return and investigate new places to nest but won’t return to breed until aged three or four years old. A degree of persistence is required, with some householders about to give up playing the calls, only to rejoice in swifts taking up the offer after several years. Felixstowe library had their first box used last year and a second one this, an exciting outcome, for both the community and for swifts. 

Through Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s partnership with Suffolk Bird Group, SoSwifts can advise on the sighting of boxes and supply sets of boxes with a call system for prominent community buildings and schools. Some community groups such as in Debenham and Sudbury have installed nest box cameras enabling them to share footage of nesting birds and extend interest, in some cases leading to swift streets. St John’s church in Bury St Edmunds have gone one further and installed a belfry box, and by 2024 had 58 out of 60 spaces occupied by swifts! Get in touch if you have somewhere in mind. 

Swifts along with house martins and swallows are reliant on a plentiful supply of aerial insects and this is one reason why the Wildlife Trusts position is that the ban against neonicotinoids, a harmful insecticide, should be upheld. Even at garden level the choices we make can make a difference. Reducing the use of pesticides and weedkiller can provide a healthy food source for swifts, fuelling them for their long migration and feeding their chicks. 

Whether you have a building suitable for a nest box, garden or not, everyone can help swifts by logging sightings on Swift Mapper or through Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service.