The perfect nest box for swifts may never be
found. All sizes and shapes have been made. Some work yet similar boxes do not.
Should they be light inside, dark, rough, front entrance or hole in the base?
When you think about it where does a swift nest? These days it is usually in or
around a building. They could be in the eaves, the stone work, on the attic
floor or on top of the walls. We have seen them in small sites about the size of
a child’s ball and in over flow pipes.
I personally think a good sized box
is as shown below. To keep starlings out the entrance hole must not be any bigger
than 60mm wide and 28 or 30mm high. It can be rounded at the edges or
rectangular. Some of my boxes have a 40mm round hole
Don’t forget to include a budgie nest concave
for the swifts to lay on. You can buy these from any good pet shop.
The box can be painted to match the
house.
Your nest boxes should ideally
positioned as high as possible on your house/building or structure. There should
be no clutter, shrubs and trees etc, that may hinder the swifts from getting in
and out.
This box is made from a pre cut plank of planed all
round wood. This box may warp so use 3 screws for joining the roof, back and
base to the sides. To join the back and base to the back use 4 screws. The
cost is around £3 plus screws and concave
This box is made from a pressure treated fencing panel.
This box WILL warp while drying so use 3 screws for joining the roof, back and
base to the sides. To join the back and base to the back use 4 screws. Use 4
screws for the front panel. When it has dried 2 of the screws can be replaced
by a hinge. Until it has dried I also screw at the corners where the front
panel meets the top and base. This will stop the edges warping. Sounds
complicated but it’s easy
A 40mm hole allows quick entry for swifts but allows
starlings to get in. Keep the entrance blocked until the end of April. 3 of
these cost me £5!!!
Making the entrance hole you’ll need one of two different hole saws. It’s
much easier to make one hole than make three side by side and cut them out.
The width of the hole can between 55 and 65mm
A 40mm hole saw cuts a perfect entrance hole for swifts
but also allows starlings to get in. It needs to be closed over the winter.
I’ve been told swifts can enter a 35mm round hole so it’s time to experiment
Experimenting this year with a nest box that sits
against the angle of the gable