Update 28th August - we now have records of a fantastic 780 Swift nests in Hertfordshire this year! The highest numbers are from the East Herts area where 353 have been found. If you have Swifts nesting, please don't assume that we have the record and do get in touch
Swifts have returned and the Herts Bird Club and Hertfordshire Swift groups are asking for all nest records to be submitted in order to better understand the population of this species in the county.
In 2023 just under 400 nests were found, including 23 in Swift boxes. This year we hope to improve on this figure and find as many nests as possible.
How can you help? Submit your records of Swift nests, including Swifts entering buildings, and parties of Swifts that are screaming low around buildings. There are two ways to do this:
1) by entering on to the RSPB’s Swift Mapper website: www.swiftmapper.org.uk
2) by submitting to the Herts Bird Club website here
For each record, please provide as much detail as possible as to the location, including the full address of the property where Swifts are nesting. This will allow better protection of nest sites in the future and the targeting of provision of Swift boxes and bricks in areas where Swifts are already present.
