There was great excitement in South Manchester Swifts when our Chorlton members created first one, and then a second Swift Street. In fact, it even looks like they have a third in mind. However, Didsbury is now well on the way to setting up its own Swift Street. A few casual chats here and there, plus a most fortunate offer from volunteers has resulted in some brilliant swift based action.
Originally SMS member Rachel knew Paul Chidgey who helped us organise boxes for St Cat’s. During this time, Paul was telling Andy, our secretary about the nesting swifts on Atwood Rd, where Paul lived. Well, it wasn’t long before Paul had two swift nesting boxes and a caller attached to his house which attracted the attention of his neighbours. Six boxes were ordered from Men in Sheds.
Meanwhile BT Openreach teams up with the RSPB in a new Business Conservation Partnership. They contact Andy to volunteer their cherry pickers and operators for putting up swift boxes. Hooray! It was just what the Atwood Rd residents needed. You can see in the pictures how useful the cherry pickers were. Other neighbours have since ordered boxes and callers, managing to install them themselves.
So, at this point there are fifteen boxes on Atwood Rd, between Beaver Rd. and Catterick Rd, awaiting the return of the swifts. The birds are rarely able to find new breeding sites near their family bases due to modern habits of draughtproofing and mending roofs and soffit boards. Our hope is that the offspring of the adults who nest there already will be now able to make their own nests near to their parents, eventually establishing a colony. If they do, there is plenty more of Atwood Rd available – box free at present.
Should there be any news in the future about this or any other Swift Streets, be assured it will appear on this website.
A big thanks to the BT Openreach Volunteers!
