Introduction
The worldwide network of Swift enthusiasts grows. So too does the range and extent of our own
activities. This year we attended the International Swift Conference in Cambridge which was
attended by over 150 delegates from 24 countries and took part in a survey organised by the RSPB
studying Swift populations. We further strengthened our link with the Cherwell District Council; we
have been involved in discussions to set up a nationwide network of local groups which like CSCP are
trying to help conserve Swifts (similar to CSCP) and established an important link with Oxford
University Estates Services.
Our priorities remain:
1. Finding and looking after nest sites
The RSPB is trialling ways to improve estimates of the UK Swift population. We took part in surveys
organised by the Society. George Candelin, on a short assignment with the RSPB, spent long hours
surveying Swifts in Bicester, Bloxham and Bodicote, and with a lot of help from Alison Urwick and
David Yates in Bloxham and Reg Tipping in Bodicote, we now know pretty well which buildings are
being used in these two villages, and even how many nests there are in each building. The results
show that there were more than 40 active nests in each village this year, making them two of the
best places to watch Swifts around here; also in Bicester George recorded nearly 20 Swifts nests just
on one estate of 1950s council‐built properties (Kings Avenue).
There is a map showing the latest information we have about Cherwell Swift numbers by parish at
the end of this report.
2. Creating new sites
The Cherwell District Council is building 250 new affordable homes in Banbury and Bicester. The
Build! Project enables future residents to get a discount on their rent or purchase price in return for
undertaking some of the work themselves. We have been in discussion with the Council’s planning
department and expect that nest places for Swifts (boxes or bricks) will be included at 8 of these
sites.
Swifts nests are also to be included in several new private developments in the District where the
Council has made the inclusion of Swift bricks/boxes a condition of the development. Data from the
CSCP about local Swift nest sites have been instrumental in these decisions.
Reg Tipping and Bill Cupit at work at Broughton Castle Bill installing a made‐to‐measure box in Bodicote
Nest boxes have been put up, and in some cases new nest places created under eaves, in Bicester,
Epwell, Bodicote, Lower Heyford, Souldern, Swerford and Adderbury. We were particularly delighted
to receive an invitation from Broughton Castle. Swifts have nested there for as long as anyone can
remember, and we were asked if we would like to take advantage of scaffolding at the castle to
create some new nest places under the eaves ‐ which Reg Tipping and Bill Cupit did.
Making the concrete base for the tower
Fitting the nest box on to the pole ... and the completed tower
In November work on the installation of a Swift tower at the Banbury Ornithological Society’s
wetland reserve in Bicester was finished. The tower has a box with 20 nest places on a galvanised
steel pole, and we hope that as Swifts nest nearby in Bicester and often feed at the reserve they will
eventually find and use these new nest places.
We are grateful to the HDH Wills Trust and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2) for
funding this project.
3. Generating Interest
Swift Stories
The film was premiered at Kirtlington Village Hall in February and later also shown in full at
Broughton Castle. On both occasions it attracted full houses (about 100 at each event) and an
enthusiastic reception. Since then I have shown extracts of the film in Charlbury, Kidlington,
Abingdon, South Newington, Bloxham and at the Cambridge conference, and have more
commitments for 2015.
Copies of the film are available on request. The complete film lasts 110 minutes, but extracts
lasting about 45 minutes are available, as is a 17‐minute version suitable for use in schools. For
more information please contact me or visit www.cherwell‐swifts.org
Events
Setting up at Bodfest with Reg Tipping
Making Swift kites at the Bloxfest with David Yates
We ran stalls at Village Festivals in Bloxham and Bodicote. These generated plenty of local
interest, tied in well with efforts to find the local Swifts nest sites and resulted in several
requests for nest boxes. We also had a stall at the market in Bicester, but shoppers obviously
had other priorities that day.
Walks
Evening Swift‐watching walks were organised in Leafield, Fritwell, Kidlington and Kirtlington.
Oxford University
We made a link with Estates Services in Oxford University. A lunchtime meeting took place and
two walks were organised, beginning in Wellington Square and finishing at the Museum of
Natural History to see the tower and watch nesting Swifts on the webcam. The aim is to
encourage interest in Swifts amongst University staff and Swift‐friendly building work at the
University. On the second walk we were delighted to spot a Swift’s nest in Wellington Square
(the second one we have found) where the great David Lack watched them 70 years ago. We
were equally excited to be told that Swifts have been seen going into one of the nest boxes we
put up in the square a couple of years ago.
My thanks to all who have checked on nest sites, sent in records, raised alerts about building work and
made space for Swifts in their homes; to those who have organised walks and meetings and helped at fetes
and other events; to TVERC for checking the records so carefully and submitting them to the Council, and to
all at the Cherwell DC who have made such good use of the data; to BOS members who have helped to get
the tower erected; to the ever‐willing team of nest box installers and of course to Andy Russell for the
wonderful film and setting up the website.
Chris Mason
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