We are happy to host this report of the activities of the Cherwell Swifts Conservation Project. CSCP is a good example of a number of such groups in the country who hope to establish a Swift Local Network in 2015 with a view to sharing experiences and ideas.
by Chris Mason
Introduction
The worldwide network of Swift enthusiasts grows. So too does the range and extent of our own activities. This year we attended the International Swift Conference in Cambridge which was attended by over 150 delegates from 24 countries and we took part in a survey organised by the RSPB studying Swift populations. We further strengthened our link with the Cherwell District Council; we have been involved in discussions to set up a nationwide network of local groups which, like CSCP, are trying to help conserve Swifts (similar to CSCP) and established an important link with Oxford University Estates Services.
Our priorities remain:
1. Finding and looking after nest sites.
The RSPB is trialling ways to improve estimates of the UK Swift population. We took part in surveys organised by the Society. George Candelin, on a short assignment with the RSPB, spent long hours surveying Swifts in Bicester, Bloxham and Bodicote, and with a lot of help from Alison Urwick and David Yates in Bloxham and Reg Tipping in Bodicote, we now know pretty well which buildings are being used in these two villages, and even how many nests there are in each building. The results show that there were more than 40 active nests in each village this year, making them two of the best places to watch Swifts around here; also in Bicester George recorded nearly 20 Swifts nests just on one estate of 1950s council-built properties (Kings Avenue).
There is a map showing the latest information we have about Cherwell Swift numbers by parish at the end of this report.
2. Creating new sites
The Cherwell District Council is building 250 new affordable homes in Banbury and Bicester. The Build! Project enables future residents to get a discount on their rent or purchase price in return for undertaking some of the work themselves. We have been in discussion with the Council’s planning department and expect that nest places for Swifts (boxes or bricks) will be included at 8 of these sites. Swifts nests are also to be included in several new private developments in the District where the Council has made the inclusion of Swift bricks/boxes a condition of the development. Data from the CSCP about local Swift nest sites have been instrumental in these decisions. Nest boxes have been put up, and in some cases new nest places created under eaves, in Bicester, Epwell, Bodicote, Lower Heyford, Souldern, Swerford and Adderbury. We were particularly delighted to receive an invitation from Broughton Castle. Swifts have nested there for as long as anyone can remember, and we were asked if we would like to take advantage of scaffolding at the castle to create some new nest places under the eaves - which Reg Tipping and Bill Cupit did. 
3. Generating Interest
Swift Stories: The film was premiered at Kirtlington Village Hall in February and later also shown in full at Broughton Castle. On both occasions it attracted full houses (about 100 at each event) and an enthusiastic reception. Since then I have shown extracts of the film in Charlbury, Kidlington, Abingdon, South Newington, Bloxham and at the Cambridge conference, and have more commitments for 2015.

Copies of the film are available on request. The complete film lasts 110 minutes, but extracts lasting about 45 minutes are available, as is a 17-minute version suitable for use in schools. For more information please contact me or visit www.cherwell-swifts.org
Events
We ran stalls at Village Festivals in Bloxham and Bodicote. These generated plenty of local interest, tied in well with efforts to find the local Swifts nest sites and resulted in several requests for nest boxes. We also had a stall at the market in Bicester, but shoppers obviously had other priorities that day.
Walks
Evening Swift-watching walks were organised in Leafield, Fritwell, Kidlington and Kirtlington. Oxford University We made a link with Estates Services in Oxford University. A lunchtime meeting took place and two walks were organised, beginning in Wellington Square and finishing at the Museum of Natural History to see the tower and watch nesting Swifts on the webcam. The aim is to encourage interest in Swifts amongst University staff and Swift-friendly building work at the University. On the second walk we were delighted to spot a Swift’s nest in Wellington Square (the second one we have found) where the great David Lack watched them 70 years ago. We were equally excited to be told that Swifts have been seen going into one of the nest boxes we put up in the square a couple of years ago.
My thanks to all who have checked on nest sites, sent in records, raised alerts about building work and made space for Swifts in their homes; to those who have organised walks and meetings and helped at fetes and other events; to TVERC for checking the records so carefully and submitting them to the Council, and to all at the Cherwell DC who have made such good use of the data; to BOS members who have helped to get the tower erected; to the ever-willing team of nest box installers and of course to Andy Russell for the wonderful film and setting up the website.
by Chris Mason
Introduction
The worldwide network of Swift enthusiasts grows. So too does the range and extent of our own activities. This year we attended the International Swift Conference in Cambridge which was attended by over 150 delegates from 24 countries and we took part in a survey organised by the RSPB studying Swift populations. We further strengthened our link with the Cherwell District Council; we have been involved in discussions to set up a nationwide network of local groups which, like CSCP, are trying to help conserve Swifts (similar to CSCP) and established an important link with Oxford University Estates Services.
Our priorities remain:
1. Finding and looking after nest sites.
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| Survey map. Click to enlarge |
2. Creating new sites
The Cherwell District Council is building 250 new affordable homes in Banbury and Bicester. The Build! Project enables future residents to get a discount on their rent or purchase price in return for undertaking some of the work themselves. We have been in discussion with the Council’s planning department and expect that nest places for Swifts (boxes or bricks) will be included at 8 of these sites. Swifts nests are also to be included in several new private developments in the District where the Council has made the inclusion of Swift bricks/boxes a condition of the development. Data from the CSCP about local Swift nest sites have been instrumental in these decisions. Nest boxes have been put up, and in some cases new nest places created under eaves, in Bicester, Epwell, Bodicote, Lower Heyford, Souldern, Swerford and Adderbury. We were particularly delighted to receive an invitation from Broughton Castle. Swifts have nested there for as long as anyone can remember, and we were asked if we would like to take advantage of scaffolding at the castle to create some new nest places under the eaves - which Reg Tipping and Bill Cupit did. 
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Reg Tipping and Bill Cupit at work at Broughton Castle (left)
In November work on the installation of a Swift tower at the Banbury Ornithological Society’s wetland reserve in Bicester was finished. The tower has a box with 20 nest places on a galvanised steel pole, and we hope that as Swifts nest nearby in Bicester and often feed at the reserve they will eventually find and use these new nest places. We are grateful to the HDH Wills Trust and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2) for funding this project.
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| Fitting the nest box on to the pole and the completed tower |
3. Generating Interest
Events
We ran stalls at Village Festivals in Bloxham and Bodicote. These generated plenty of local interest, tied in well with efforts to find the local Swifts nest sites and resulted in several requests for nest boxes. We also had a stall at the market in Bicester, but shoppers obviously had other priorities that day.
 |
| Making Swift kites at the Bloxfest with David Yates |
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| Setting up at Bodfest with Reg Tipping |
Walks
Evening Swift-watching walks were organised in Leafield, Fritwell, Kidlington and Kirtlington. Oxford University We made a link with Estates Services in Oxford University. A lunchtime meeting took place and two walks were organised, beginning in Wellington Square and finishing at the Museum of Natural History to see the tower and watch nesting Swifts on the webcam. The aim is to encourage interest in Swifts amongst University staff and Swift-friendly building work at the University. On the second walk we were delighted to spot a Swift’s nest in Wellington Square (the second one we have found) where the great David Lack watched them 70 years ago. We were equally excited to be told that Swifts have been seen going into one of the nest boxes we put up in the square a couple of years ago.
My thanks to all who have checked on nest sites, sent in records, raised alerts about building work and made space for Swifts in their homes; to those who have organised walks and meetings and helped at fetes and other events; to TVERC for checking the records so carefully and submitting them to the Council, and to all at the Cherwell DC who have made such good use of the data; to BOS members who have helped to get the tower erected; to the ever-willing team of nest box installers and of course to Andy Russell for the wonderful film and setting up the website.
