Swift boxes aim to boost 'red list' bird numbers

20 hours ago

Sonia Watson & Jodie Halford

BBC News, Essex

Swifts usually arrive in the UK from early May

David Moreton A brown bird is seen flying through the sky with its wings outstretched. Its face is lighter in colour than the rest of its body. It has forked tail. — Swifts usually arrive in the UK from early May

Wildlife enthusiasts have introduced swift boxes to several church buildings in Essex to try to encourage the endangered birds to nest there.

Boxes have been installed in St Bartholomew's Church in Wickham Bishops, St Peter's in South Weald and, most recently, St Nicolas' in Witham.

In 2020, swifts were added to the UK's red list of birds most need of conservation with their population having declined by 66% between 1995 and 2022.

"If it carries on this way, the swifts that visit England could be extinct in the next 30 years," said John Le Seve, who has been creating the boxes to try to boost numbers.

Ian Le Seve (right) joined the Reverend Dr Jonathan Pritchard (middle) and Alan Roast, who helped make the swift boxes, at an unveiling at St Nicolas' Church in Witham

Ian Puckey/BBC Three men - Alan Roast, Dr Jonathan Pritchard and Ian Le Seve - smile at the camera. Mr Roast is wearing a grey polo shirt, Dr Pritchard is in a priest's white and gold cassock, and Mr Le Seve is in a white collared shirts with spots on. — Ian Le Seve (right) joined the Reverend Dr Jonathan Pritchard (middle) and Alan Roast, who helped make the swift boxes, at an unveiling at St Nicolas' Church in Witham

Conservationists have given the possible reasons for the decline in swift numbers as changes to farming methods, a drop in the number of insects and fewer nesting sites in tall buildings.

Mr Le Seve said he had been inspired to take action and build the boxes after learning of the issue.

"We started off in St Bartholomew's, and were able to make 12 swift boxes and put them up in the church tower," he said.

This was followed by installations in South Weald and Witham, where a ceremony was held on Sunday to welcome the birds.

A ceremony was held at St Nicolas' Church in Witham, Essex, on Sunday to unveil the swift boxes and welcome the migratory birds to the area

Ian Puckey/BBC A group of people are pictured outside a tall, stone church. They are facing away from the camera. The sky is blue and there are a few wispy clouds in the sky. — A ceremony was held at St Nicolas' Church in Witham, Essex, on Sunday to unveil the swift boxes and welcome the migratory birds to the area

"We've got two more projects we're working towards but we need permission," he said.

"People worry about damaging the fabric of a church. We don't drill into the walls - they're basically just slotted in.

"There's no way in from the outside, and nothing else can get in so there's no worry about pigeons or crows getting in."

The birds, which usually arrive in the UK from Africa in early May, spend almost all their lives in flight – eating, drinking, mating and sleeping on the wing.

They depend on healthy insect populations and suitable nesting sites for their breeding season in the UK, conservationists say.