Swift & Sure

In the latest of our series, Nature Moments, one of Lancashire’s top wildlife photographers Peter Smith tells how he spent the summer attracting one of our most elusive birds, the swift

A COUPLE of years ago it was brought to my attention by a friend that it was possible to attract swifts to nest boxes to breed. It was with this limited knowledge that two friends and I decided to have a go.

During the winter months I made us two boxes each – being a retired joiner helped, I suppose – but anyone with a few tools and woodworking skills could easily make their own.

There are various designs available but the most important criteria is the size of the entrance hole and its placement in the box. The other factor which speeds up the rate at which the swift discover the boxes is to play a tape of swift calls placed by the boxes. This was left to one of us to sort out. In due course, we all had a speaker connected to a digibox playing a pre-recorded card with swift calls on it.

We had all winter to play around with the boxes and equipment as swifts are one of the last summer migrants to arrive in the UK. I have been studying and photographing British wildlife for over 50 years so I have a fair knowledge of swift behaviour and nesting requirements.

They always nest in inaccessible locations, such as under eaves, in broken vents or under roof tiles, making observation rather difficult.