The Swift colony in St Peter’s Church, Kirk Smeaton has done extremely well since boxes were installed in the west window of the church tower in 2016. In 2021 eleven out of the fourteen boxes were occupied with fourteen youngsters fledging successfully. This fantastic progress has exceeded all our expectations and we think it is fair to say has saved the Smeaton Swifts from disappearing altogether.
As we are nearing the capacity of the existing boxes we are keen to increase their number. The church authorities have kindly given us permission to do so – just imagine the prospect of having 50 or more Swifts wheeling over the villages in a few summers time!
Ideally, we would like to complete this work before the Swifts return in May 2022. With the fantastic support of Doncaster Naturalists’ Society, other groups and individuals we have raised sufficient funds to buy the materials to build the nest boxes. They will be made of the same material as the original boxes – a high quality mdf board which is very resistant to damp. Paul and Dave are taking up joinery to help construct the new boxes and we will place 16 boxes below the first set and behind the louvres (see photo). The front of the boxes will be painted black so they are not visible and do not affect the outside appearance of the church.
We would like to thank Doncaster Naturalists’ Society for their very kind donation and look forward to enjoying the Swifts for many summers to come.
Dave Williamson & Paul Simmons January 2022
Fig 1 – The Swifts normally lay 2 or sometimes 3 eggs on the indented blocks we have provided
Fig 2 – The three eggs all hatched and eventually fledged
Fig 3 – The original nest boxes in the tower. The new boxes will be placed below these, the louvres will provide a landing platform for entry.