Save Our Swifts
Our Colerne Swifts
There are many things that make our village special - but our Colerne swifts deserve top billing. Their long association with our village stems from the old-style roof tiles and eaves that survive, mainly in central Colerne - providing essential and long-established nesting sites.
It is easy to take them for granted, their aerial acrobatics and “screaming” flights just part of summer in Colerne, but things are changing. On earth for 50 million years, but now “red listed” as an endangered species. Sadly, we know from our longer-term residents that we are losing our Colerne swifts as well.
Why are swifts in trouble? New housing makes no space for them to nest, roof refurbishment is done without preserving nest access and their insect food supply is dwindling.
Identification tip: if you can see a nest, it isn’t a swift! ...they squeeze into out of sight spaces under roof tiles and eaves.
What we are doing
Raising awareness:
Talks and Films e.g 'Colerne swifts - their incredible story' (Bath and District RSPB) which launched our Save Colerne Swifts project in April 2022; screening of the Devil's Bird film, April 2024. | |
'Welcome home'! Ringing of the church bells by Colerne Church's young bell-ringing team to celebrate own swifts return in May has become an annual feature. Many thanks to Roger and the ringers. The welcome in 2024 was filmed by Aleksander Domanski, acclaimed naturalist and documentary filmmaker. | |
Our Swift Poems, Pictures and Information booklet This contains poems and drawings created by children in years five and six (2021-22) at Colerne Church of England Primary School. The children wrote these poems after learning about swifts in school and we are very grateful to the teachers for their support. Contains lots of swift information - available from Bright’s Village store or via our email. | |
Promoting awareness, information and projects. e.g. * our leaflets for Colerne households living in swift hotspot areas; * a homeowner's 'you've got swifts!' information letter; * our leaflets on swifts, how to ID a swift, and how you can help swifts. | |
Promoting bug friendly gardens. |
and ...
Continuing to explore the feasibility of adding nest boxes to the Church tower. Thanks to the Church for facilitating this. |
Can You Help?
Nest spotting: Join us as we walk the streets to spot where our swifts are nesting. Get in touch to help - it’s fun, or if you know of an active or lost nest site. Knowing is vital for preserving nests and planning where to put up nest boxes.
Consider adding a swift nest box: https://swift-conservation.org website has lots of advice.
If planning roof repairs: think “swifts” - it is illegal to disturb a nest during their breeding time with us. You may not even be aware they are there so it's really best to avoid doing roof work during May to August if you live in our swift “hot spot” areas.
Ask your roofer to be swift aware - to both preserve and create space for them. Check out the swift conservation's Roof & Gable Repairs & Re-Roofing with Swifts - how to repair or renew your roof without harming your Swifts (pdf).
How to identify a swift
How you can help swifts
Your Guide to Helping Swifts by the RSPB - opens as a pdf.
The RSPB website has a section on swifts which includes information on where and when to see them, and how to create swift nests. Take a looks at their short animated video of a swifts migration journey - a round trip from the savannas and forests of Africa to the towns and cities of the UK ... and back again.
SOSSSH - Save Our Swifts Swallows Sand martins and House martins
www.facebook.com/groups/2020503754915509/