RSPB Swift Survey 2018: Lewisham Swifts looking for volunteers

Each year the RSPB invites the public to participate in an annual Swift Survey to record sightings of low-level roof-height screaming parties of swifts and their nest sites.

This year Lewisham Swifts is promoting the survey across the London Borough of Lewisham and inviting residents to volunteer. The survey results will be collated and reported to the RSPB and will help us to:

• Establish where swifts are still breeding in Lewisham.
• Identify areas that need our attention in either preserving or providing swift nest sites.
• Raise awareness and enthuse the Lewisham community about their local swifts!

What does the survey involve?

Survey volunteers are allocated a 500m x 500m area of Lewisham which they survey for swift activity on (ideally) at least three occasions: one survey in each of May, June and July. If you wish you can survey your square more often as this will increase your chances of finding swifts. If you’ve volunteered late or are unable to complete all three surveys, don’t be put off - it is still valuable to conduct as many surveys as you can.

It’s best to do the survey in the evening between 7.30pm and 9.30pm because that’s when low flying swift activity near nest sites is at its peak. Alternatively you could carry out the survey in the two hours after dawn if you’re an early riser! Surveys should be done in dry, still conditions as swifts aren’t so active when it’s raining.

Only swifts seen flying at or just above roof height in close proximity to buildings, need be recorded. These swifts are likely to be nesting in the vicinity.

There are two survey forms to complete and return to us:

1. Survey Visit Recording Form: for each survey visit per square.
2. Nest Location Recording Form: for recording where swifts are seen entering or leaving a possible nest site.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Emma at LewishamSwifts (at) gmail.com
or via Lewisham Swifts Facebook Group page: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1700377583561148/about

Swift sightings in Lewisham: mapping on Google Maps

Lewisham Swifts is inviting people across the London Borough of Lewisham to look out for swifts and report sightings to us.  This will help to broaden people's awareness of swifts and help us to find more swift nesting sites.

The sightings are being plotted on a Google Map which is visible to everyone on the internet.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-o1zbebaQZm3LO0iLv0P1svdLMwjNuyR&usp=sharing

The map has three layers:

Blue: reported sightings in 2018

Yellow: nest sites that Lewisham Swifts are aware of

Reddy/pinky colour (note to self: next time choose a colour with a name 😉): nest sites that have been recorded on the RSPB Swift Survey.  This has revealed nests we didn't know about and has also shown that we know of nests (eg Burnt Ash Road) that haven't been recorded on the survey.  So this year we can focus on surveying these nests and recording them on the RSPB Swift Survey.

The map has been online for nearly two weeks and already has around 40 recorded sightings.  As well as showing us where swifts have been seen, it also indicates our 'reach' to residents across the borough and where we need to publicise more.

If you see swifts in the borough please report sightings to us by e-mail: 

lewishamswifts (at) gmail.com

Please let us know the:

- location (road name or nearest road junction if it's a long road)
- number of swifts
- date and time of day
- height they were flying (eg high in the sky or roof level)

Swifts flying at roof level and screaming can be an indication that they have nests nearby.  Ultimately we want to find nest sites so that we can inform the building owners and advise them how to preserve the nests.  And hopefully they or nearby residents might want to install nest boxes and try to increase the size of the colony!

Lewisham Swifts has a growth spurt!

Lewisham Swifts has entered its third year and we've geared up our online presence.

The group started on Facebook (where it still exists and has an active chat going on) but the Facebook Group is only visible to people who have Facebook accounts.

 www.facebook.com/groups/1700377583561148/

To broaden our presence online we have added:

1. This blog, which can be seen by everyone on the internet

lewishamswifts.blogspot.co.uk

 
2. A Twitter account (which can be read via the url - you don't need a Twitter account to read tweets)

@LewishamSwifts     or     twitter.com/lewishamswifts

3. A Facebook Page (which can been seen by everyone on the internet) to act as a gateway to the Facebook Group (which is only visible to Facebook members)

www.facebook.com/LewishamSwifts

 

We also have an e-mail address, which should be visible in the top right hand corner of the blog screen.  We've already had our first spam e-mail so perhaps we should write it online as lewishamswifts (at) gmail.com !

Wynell Road nest box installation

10 Stimpson nest boxes were installed on the side of a block of flats in Wynell Road, Forest Hill, courtesy of the London Fire Brigade.  Wynell Road has an existing swift colony and putting up boxes is an attempt to increase the size of the colony.

The building is owned by Lewisham Homes and they agreed to the boxes being installed.  (They also own the Burnt Ash Road buildings which have been the subject of swift nest conservation over the past year, so we're delighted that they're prepared to engage further).  The walls were inaccessible by ladder so Lewisham's Ecology Officer approached the Fire Brigade and they agreed to install the nest boxes using their aerial ladder platform.  The Fire Brigade treated it as a training exercise as it gave them the opportunity to practice using the equipment off-site and they also went door-to-door to neighbouring properties offering smoke detectors.

The presence of fire engines was quite an attraction - most passers-by stopped for a chat to find out what was happening.  It was also fascinating to talk to the fire brigade crew and witness their camaderie and banter.

With many thanks to Forest Hill White Watch for their hard work, and also to Lewisham Homes and Nick Pond.

The boxes are visible from the top of Wynell Road at the junction with the alley.  Fortunately they are on a windowless wall so the human residents won't have their privacy invaded by people looking up at the nest boxes!
 

Burnt Ash Road: May 2018 Update

After last year's positive action by Lewisham Homes and Breyer Group there was some bad news this month when it was discovered that scaffolding was over-due for removal (ie it was still up when the swifts returned) and that Lewisham Homes had gone overboard with installing pigeon spikes (a potential death-trap for swifts if they are placed near or below their nests).

After some frantic e-mailing by Steven Robinson of Swift Conservation the scaffolding and some of the pigeon spikes were removed and a swift-friendly environment has resumed in Burnt Ash Road.  Phew!

March 2018 - an interloper in the nest box!

After a Great Tit had sought shelter in Rebecca's nest box during the winter, she later reported that it had taken up residence but had taken a dislike to the Lewisham Swift Group sign on the inside of the box and was trying to pull it off.

"So it looks like the great tit will be nesting in the swift box! However it really does not like the Forest Hill & Lewisham Borough Swift sign at the back and is determined to get it off! No swifts allowed!"

It's not uncommon for other small birds to use a nest box intended for swifts.  We shall have to see what happens when the swifts turn up in May!

March 2018 - a stall at a Forest Hill street party

Some of our members have close ties with the Forest Hill Society so we took the opportunity to display some information on their stall at the Dartmouth Road Street party.

February 2018 - talk by Edward Mayer

In February Rebecca arranged for Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation to give a fascinating talk on swifts and urban biodiversity.  The event was held at Lewisham Town Hall and was well-attended by residents from across the borough.  A number of people were disappointed that they couldn't attend and we hope to invite Edward back again.

November 2017 - End of Season Report

End of season report for 2017, as posted on the Facebook Group page:

Its been a while. The swifts have long gone now. As we settle into autumn and brush off our winter hats and coats they are flying over the hot and sunny Congo!

I thought an end of season report would be a good idea to see what has been achieved this year for swift conservation in the the borough.

So, some figures and news.

Just under £450 was raised through crowdfunding (deducting their fees) to purchase swift boxes and nest moulds. The initial target was to buy 25 nest boxes with nest moulds at £16 each. In the end these boxes were not sturdy enough to be put on Valentines Court in Forest Hill where I would never be able to reach them again. So 4 Schwegler Woodcrete nest boxes were chosen to a total of £220. With the rest of the money 13 John Stimpson boxes were purchased. 7 of these have been claimed by kind residents responding to leaflets put through their doors asking them to host nest boxes for swifts. So 6 are still available! We have devised a system that we ask residents to purchase each box for £16, this way we can buy more in again and keep the cycle going. It takes John Stimpson a few weeks to get boxes made so this also ensure boxes are available when the demand is there. However, if people are not able to afford this cost, we can provide them subsidised - this ensure anyone who wants to help swifts can, whatever their situation.

We have recently been awarded £500 as part of the Kenneth White Legacy Award managed by Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership, which is part of Lewisham Council. This will be used to purchase 30 more John Stimpson boxes to provide to residents willing to host swifts on their property.

In all, progress has been small. A total of 10 new nest boxes have gone up this season, not as much as I had hoped for but still 10 that weren't there before!

8 new "natural" nest sites have been identified. 2 of these were found by Emma Brooker​ during her survey of the Telegraph Hill area.

1 of these is the famous Burnt Ash Road colony brought to our attention by Angela Chapman when she found us at Lewisham Peoples Day. This is not really just one nest site but actually a very large colony of swifts nesting across 4 adjacent properties, numbering at least 30 pairs!!!!!! This is the colony who were under direct threat from roof repairs and faced loosing their nest sites for good! Luckily, after working with Lewisham Homes and the Breyer Group roofing works were stopped so the swifts could continue nesting. Works have now started and special gaps and holes are going to be left in the new soffits of all 4 properties so the swifts can get back in next season! This is the biggest success of the group this year - saving the largest colony of swifts known in the borough!

Lewisham Youth Project have started making swift boxes during their carpentry workshops every week. These boxes will be sold during fetes and festivals next year and the money raised donated to helping swifts!

Sadly, one of our most active members, Chris Van Dort​ has moved away to start a new venture in Cornwall. Chris has been instrumental in getting new boxes up for residents as well as helping in the Burnt Ash Road swift saga. However, he may just set up a swift group in Cornwall, which is great as there isn't one there yet!

This means we now need someone to help us get boxes up across the borough. If you would like to volunteer for this very important role or know someone that would be interested please get in touch.

Lastly we will be holding a swift talk presented by the Swift Conservation founder Edward Mayer soon. We are just confirming a suitable date.

We hope to get boxes up in time for the swifts arrival by the end of April next year, so if you would like a box or two, do let us know and hopefully we can find someone to help get them up if your not DIY savvy.

August 2017 - Burnt Ash Road success!

The work to persuade Lewisham Homes and the Breyer Group to save the colony of swifts in Burnt Ash Road paid off.  An article appeared in the News Shopper explaining how Lewisham Homes and Breyer Group: 


"... rescheduled refurbishment works. When the work did start they temporarily removed parts of scaffolding that would have blocked the swifts flight paths. They also put out boxes to provide nesting spaces for the birds."

In November 2017 Rebecca posted an update that Breyer Group had also left some gaps in the soffits to encourage swifts to nest, without the need to install more nest boxes.

"A lovely update from the refurbishment works going on at Burnt Ash Road where we discovered the largest known swift colony in the borough. The Breyer Group working with Lewisham Homes have left 30mm gaps in all the soffits of the front, rear and sides of properties 88,90,92 and 94!!! They have therefore ensured swifts can continue to nest there and have also created loads more nest sites!"

August 2017 - trying to save a grounded swift

On 12 August 2017 Rebecca posted:

"Going to pick up a grounded swift from a vets in Lee tomorrow - thanks Chris for letting me know. I will take it in a cab to the Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead where they have specialist swift rehabilitators. The only thing is I need a hot water bottle to put in its box when I get it (if it is still alive). Can anyone drop one round to me before 10am tomorrow? On the plus side a professional swift rehabilitator is going to train me how to look after them so I can do it in the future!"

Unfortnately the swift died overnight.

Action for Swifts has posted advice if you find a grounded swift

July 2017 - RSPB Swift Survey

Every summer the RSPB invites people to conduct a Swift Survey in their local area and submit the findings.  The purpose of the survey is to:

"... record locations of swift nest sites around the UK. This information can then be used by local authority planners, architects, ecologists and developers to find out where swift hotspots are located around the country and therefore mitigate to protect breeding swifts during building development. This conservation planning tool plays an important role in reversing the decline of this charismatic migrant bird."

In July 2017 Rebecca posted an invitation for Lewisham residents to conduct swift surveys.

"2017 SWIFT SURVEY"

"We are looking for volunteers to go out and survey swift activity in their area. The RSPB swift conservation team is supporting us with this project and providing the materials.

We are looking for people to survey for the rest of July and into August this year. Volunteers will be allocated a 400 metre radius to survey from a point of choice. The best option is for that point to be from a home address. Surveys should take place in the early morning or two hours before sunset and just after dusk as this is when swifts are the most active around nest sites. It would be fantastic if each area could be surveyed at least twice and there is no set length of time for each survey. Of course, volunteers can do as many as they like!

Volunteers will receive a survey pack in the post with full guidance, maps of their area, survey charts and more.

With your help, we hope to be able to collect sufficient information to improve our knowledge of swifts in our local area. Having a greater awareness of their numbers and nesting sites is crucial in helping us to protect existing swift colonies and expand them through the provision of new nest sites."

July 2017 - playing swift attraction calls

Nest boxes alone are not enough to attract swifts - attraction calls must be played too.  A CD and MP3 downloads can be purchased from Swift Conservation and downloads of Dutch recordings are available from the website of the Netherlands Swift Protection Group.

This was Rebecca's feedback on the Dutch calls:

"For those playing swift attraction calls at the moment for their boxes, The Netherlands Swift Protection group has free downloadable calls recorded by Rosanne van Oudheusden on their website. The recommended track numbers are 1, 10, 13 and 14 (or 14a or 15a). For the past week I have been playing track 1 on loop with some interest. But today I played track 14 on loop instead and this attracted much more interest - I had 15 plus swifts coming to check out the sound and going crazy with some hitting the box but not yet going in. This google translate link will take you to their translated website. Click sounds under the downloads tab."

https://translate.google.com/translate?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gierzwaluwbescherming.nl%2Fdownloads%2F 

Action for Swifts gives information about playing attraction calls, as does the Suffolk Wildlife Trust which ranks the different techniques of playing calls against the likelihood of attracting swifts, and gives detailed information about setting up your own sound system.

July 2017 - Burnt Ash Road, Lee

At Lewisham People's Day Rebecca met Angela and her brother, who live in Lee and had been lobbying Lewisham Council to protect a large swift colony on Burnt Ash Road that was under threat during building refurbishment work.

"Raising awareness about swifts yesterday at Lewisham People's Day. It was a great day with lots of interest and was incredibly hot! We met a marvellous woman called Angela and her brother who told us how the council recently put up scaffolding on a building with a large swift colony in Burnt Ash Road in Lee and the swifts couldn't get into their nests to their chicks. She gave the swifts a voice and got the works stopped and the scaffolding taken down and swift harmony has been restored. But not for long as when the swifts go all the holes will be blocked up. I will visit the site this week and we will make it a priority to save this swift colony by campaigning to get boxes up where any holes are lost."

"Last night we went to visit Angela in Burnt Ash Road to survey the site she informed us about where roof repairs are threatening a very large swift colony. I counted the largest amount of swifts I think I've ever seen nesting in just one building (at least 5 nests but Angela says there are many more!). She has fought and fought to get the netting and scaffolding down but fell on deaf ears. In the end it was the scaffolding and construction company who took her seriously and stopped the works, cut the top netting off at the back and removed the top planks. The Swifts can now get in and out of their nests but with some difficulty as the scaffold is still up. Also the nets at the front and side of the building are still up and any nest holes there are still blocked. The swift fledglings will certainly struggle to negotiate the scaffold when it comes to leaving the nest and many may ground. Other buildings in the road where swifts may have been nesting are totally covered in scaffolding and netting and any young inside would have already died. This is precisely why we are loosing our swifts. Surprisingly it is Lewisham Homes and the Breyer Group who are carrying out these works. In a way this is a good thing as we have already worked with them re swifts in the past and I have the details for the necessary people to contact. We would like the all of the top part of the scaffolding and netting taken down to protect the young who will be leaving in a few weeks. Works will go ahead when the swifts leave and all their nest holes will be blocked up. We hope to work with Breyer Group to replace all lost nest sites with the equal amount of boxes if not more. I am confident they will work with us to do this given their past enthusiasm to put boxes up on Lewisham Homes properties! Fingers crossed. If not I suppose a petition? Well done to Angela for having achieved what she has so far."

July 2017 - leaflets and Lewisham People's Day

Rebecca created leaflets to distribute to local homes and at events.

And posters to display on the "Help Save Our Swifts" stall at Lewisham People's Day.

The day itself was a great success!

June 2017 - a logo and a nest box!

Rebecca created a logo for the Group, using a photo taken by John Ferguson.

(We'll be updating the logo with the shortened version of the Group's name, once we've worked out how to do that ...)

Rebecca also bought a swift box (including a camera) to install on her own home.

"Getting my own swift box ready to put up! This swift box is from Garden Nature that came with a camera attached inside. I thought it would be great to get some footage of some of our own local swifts (if they hopefully take to the box) and have a mini Springwatch going on. I have painted the roof white to deflect the morning sun and inserted a nest mould by Schwegler that I got from livingwithbirds.com. It is said that nest moulds increase nest box uptake by swifts by a year. I won't get any breeding swifts this year but hope to attract the first time breeders who will now be looking for a nest site for next year. They do like to be organised."

May 2017 - Valentine Court, Forest Hill

Rebecca approached Lewisham Homes to ask if they would be willing to install Swift nest boxes on the Valentine Court estate on Perry Vale during refurbishment work.  Lewisham Homes and the Breyer Construction Group agreed and Rebecca launched a crowd-funding appeal to pay for the nest boxes and surveyed the site to find suitable installation places.

Rebecca later posted:

"Getting four schwegler swift boxes ready for hopefully the grand installation on one of the buildings on Valentines Court in Forest Hill at the end of the week. I had to think carefully about what boxes to choose taking into account they will be placed on walls without eaves so will get the full force of the weather. I was advised to get boxes that would be able to take this, especially rain. These boxes are made out of wood and concrete and are long lasting. I have painted the roofs white to deflect any sun to help keep temperatures down inside. I am planning on having them put on a true north facing wall to keep them out of strong sun. Fingers crossed they go up without a hitch! Many thanks to Lewisham Homes and the Breyer Group for supporting this project so far."

By the end of May 2017 four boxes had been installed on Valentine Court.  Two are visible at the top of the wall in this photo, and they can been seen by passers-by on Perry Vale.  We still need someone in that block to play swift calls.

June-July 2016

Rebecca started to record her Swift sightings.  This map was the result of just one evening's bus ride!

She began distributing leaflets to homes near known nesting sites (Kilmorie Road and Wynell Road) and contacted local groups and online forums to promote the existence of the Group and its work.

Origins

The "Forest Hill SE23 & Lewisham Borough Swift Group" was created by Rebecca Headd in 2016, to increase awareness of Swifts in the London Borough of Lewisham and to encourage people to protect and increase nest sites.

For the first two years of the Group's existence its online presence consisted of a Facebook Group (which is still active and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1700377583561148/). To broaden our online presence we have created this blog so that we are accessible to people who don't have a Facebook account.

The first few posts will summarise the Group's actions over its first two years (meaning the dates of the posts won't match the dates of the activity) but then we will catch up and post in real time.