Where can I get a cheap swift nest box from?

Pigeon feather · #1 (**permalink**) 23-02-2010, 02:56 PM

I really want to try to encourage swifts to nest on my house this year, we get many flying about in the summer months and they often fly really low between the houses looking for gaps, I have been trying to make one but it's not going too well so it may just be best to buy one but does anyone know where I can get one for relatively cheap i.e £15 or less? all the boxes I have seen online are between £30-£40 maybe more!

SusieBee · #2 (**permalink**) 23-02-2010, 04:00 PM

Hi Pigeon Feather, I've just been reading about different nest-boxes (RSPB) handbook. Swifts are listed as one of the rarer nesters birds that almost never nest in artificial boxes. Preferring niches in roof buildings.

Studies playing swift calls originating from the boxes increased the chances of them adopting a box. Interesting stuff. Many nature reserves are using specialist boxes, which is probably why they're so expensive.

Hopefully someone here will have more info.

davecatt · #3 (**permalink**) 23-02-2010, 04:18 PM

The site below has a lot of info on swift conservation in general.
You may be interested in the Plywood box made to order £12.00 + postage

Shopping!

Pigeon feather · #4 (**permalink**) 24-02-2010, 10:41 AM

Excellent, I shall look into it, thank you both for the info

hainjulia · #5 (**permalink**) 20-03-2010, 04:42 AM

Hi once try in Ebay ...You may get some cute swift nest boxes at affordable price ...

Pandora

cara pace · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2010, 09:41 PM

I've just been searching for info on Swift nest boxes and have come across a couple of threads like this one.
Pigeon feather, did you manage to install a nesting box this year and if so, was it successful?
Has anybody else had any success at all with them?

RKB · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2010, 10:23 PM

Why not make one? It doesn't have to be exactly like a bought one, as long as the dimensions and hole position are similar then it should work as well as any if made from plywood.

Jonathan · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2010, 07:39 AM

There's a whole load of info on nesting sites, boxes, etc. here:

Installing Swift Nest Places

And an instructional pdf on how to make a nestbox can be downloaded from here:

http://www.londons-swifts.org.uk/simple_swift_box_1.pdf

Cheers
Jonathan

cara pace · #9 (**permalink**) 10-08-2010, 07:54 AM

Thanks RKB and Jonathan,
I think we will make one or more! I'm not against paying for one though if it works. I was wondering if anybody had any swifts nesting in an artificial box? I have read that they do not like them.
I'm currently reading Devil Birds by Derek Bromhall, and the swifts in the book are nesting in artificial boxes, so I think they will nest in them if the location is right. I presume it will have to be positioned facing a certain direction like you have to do with a bat box? I will check the link Jonathan and see what it says.
I have also tried to contact London Swifts in the past, but the link doesn't work for me

Pigeon feather · #10 (**permalink**) 10-08-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cara pace

I've just been searching for info on Swift nest boxes and have come across a couple of threads like this one.
Pigeon feather, did you manage to install a nesting box this year and if so, was it successful?
Has anybody else had any success at all with them?

Hi cara pace

I did manage to install a diy one I made and it was successful...

with the sparrows!

I often heard swifts screaming nearby and always looked up to see if they were going in the box but they never did as far as I could see, anyway now there is a load of dry grass sticking out the nest hole and sparrows going in and out and they already have a terrace I put up for them! ah well at least it wasn't a complete waste