Over a year ago now, some of our members in Chorlton held a meeting to gauge interest in creating a Swift Street in the area.  Up to then, South Manchester Swifts’ projects had been limited to the Didsbury area.  It was decided to begin on Egerton Rd West. What was to be a highly successful project began, eventually stretching to Sandy Lane.

Alan and Dave attended the meeting out of interest although they didn’t live on the relevant roads. Alan had installed some swift nest boxes six years before with little interest from the birds. Recently he’d acquired an all important caller which had made a big difference. Swifts were starting to investigate. His neighbour Dave suggested trying to enthuse others who, like them, lived on Westfield Rd or the roads immediately adjacent and may be interested in creating their own Swift Street. Plenty of the neighbours were keen and willing to pay for boxes and, with advice from SMS, Alan and Dave were able to order 28 nest boxes from Heatons’ Men in Sheds. They also contacted Jan Erik, our intrepid ladderman, box installer and swift expert from Sheffield Swift Network. who, on Monday July 28th, put them up in a morning. Dave managed to get one put up on his present house and ordered two more for his impending move to a house down the road.

Swift streets don’t just benefit the swifts. The neighbours get to know each other better and have a common purpose. For years they’ll be spotting swifts and possible nesting pairs. It’ll involve new people as they move in – if they’re bird lovers of course.

You may think, considering the recent installations at Egerton Rd South and Sandy Lane, that Chorlton has enough swift streets.  In fact, you’d be wrong; the idea of creating groups of nesting sites for swifts is a long-term project.  A street full of nest boxes may be lucky to have even one or two occupied in the first summer. It could be by a pair who had lost their previous site due to renewed soffit boards or other building work.  The birds who are looking for nests are 2+ year olds searching out a suitable site for the following year when they are ready to breed.  These youngsters are called ‘bangers’ as they nudge nest boxes to see if they are already occupied.

Once a pair settles in a box they will return to the same place every year.  Their young will also look for nests nearby and, over the years, will create a whole colony.  This would do wonders for our swift population.  The other important aspect of this is the availability of insects on which the swifts feed.  More information on that can be found in our section about helping swifts.

So, we’re saying goodbye to the swifts in August but there’ll be a lot of crossed fingers in Chorlton next May when they come swooping back from Africa.