Hundreds of nesting boxes installed across Leicestershire
It's hoped it'll help boost 'swift' populations after years of decline
People in Leicestershire are hoping to restore the population of swifts in the country having installed hundreds of nesting boxes.
Leicestershire County Council’s two-year ‘Swift Action for Swifts’ project is aimed to help reverse the decline in swift numbers, with residents getting involved and playing a crucial part in turning the tide.
More than 350 swift boxes were installed in parts of Leicestershire where swifts have been recorded. 150 swift callers were also fitted, which use sound to attract the bird to nest in the boxes.
Swift numbers have fallen 53% between 1995 and 2016.
This programme saw huge public interest, so much so saw double the number of enquiries to install a box were made, than were available on the scheme.
Funded by a grant from Natural England, the project also saw volunteers spend over 1,000 hours carrying out property assessments, installing boxes and telling people more about swifts.
Councillor Adam Tilbury, is the cabinet member for environment & flooding:
“This has been a fantastic project, and it’s heartening to see it’s made a huge difference in helping to halt the decline in swift numbers.
“It’s also been great to see residents getting involved to create much-needed space for these remarkable birds.
"Nature is so important, so I hope we can all keep doing out bit to support our swift population.”
The county council is working with the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Trust (LROS) to help organisations in Leicestershire support swifts, including swift-friendly practices within building and installation works.
Peter Williams is from the Trust, and tells us more about them:
"They're ancient, and have been around this area of the earth long before we were here. They nested in trees and in cliffs and outside our homes. So they're very, very local to us.
"They're iconic. They make this lovely screaming sound when parties of Swifts fly low over the house in summer - it's the classic sound of summer, really. They're just incredible birds; when the fleshling takes off from the nest, it's probably not going to land until it starts breathing in three or four years time. So it sleeps on the wing, drinks from lakes on the wing and they travel something like 300,000 miles a year."
The local swift population is still being monitored and people can submit any sightings of swifts by visiting the LROS website or NatureSpot.
Swift numbers have been in decline nationally, with the reason put down to a reduction in breeding sites, fewer flying insects due to the use of pesticides, and climate change.
The Natural England funding was provided from the “Species Recovery Programme Grant Scheme” as part of a two-year project that began in 2023.