Skip to content

Developmental Phases

When colonies, such as ours, are being established in a completely new location they progress through a series of developmental phases. These two documents, an abbreviated timeline and a full summary, give an overview of our Kinoulton colony from first pair arrival in 2011 to an ongoing established self-sustaining colony.

In 2025 and 2026 we have complied very detailed data sets of breeding behaviour for all the breeding pairs. This is too complex to include on this website. Please get in touch with Chris Dredge via this website if you wish to know more.

Kinoulton

Kinoulton – St Lukes Church tower swift colony

A one-page visual timeline of breeding phases since 2011.

(click + to expand)

  • 2011: First nest boxes installed (North face). First fledging: 2 chicks
  • 2012: East face added (20 boxes). Poor national swift year.
  • 2013: Bee disturbance; lowest productivity (1 fledgling)
  • 2014: Recovery begins (9 fledged)
  • 2015: West & South faces added – 40 boxes in total
  • 2016: First major expansion (20 fledged)
  • 2017: 26 fledged from 14 nests
  • 2018: 37 fledged from 18 nests
  • 2019: 32 of 40 boxes used; 43 fledged
  • 2020: Covid restrictions; poor weather; estimated 30 fledged
  • 2021: Full monitoring resumes; 39 fledged, no deaths
  • 2022: Very late final fledging (September) 46 fledged
  • 2023: Earliest arrivals on record; 52 fledged, 100% survival
  • 2024: More breeding pairs but fewer chicks (44 fledged)
  • 2025: Record year — 54 fledged, minimal losses

Total fledged since 2011: 414 young swifts

A summary of breeding activity since 2011, focussing on dates of first arrival, egg laying, chick hatching, fledging and final departure

Summary of Fledging Records

St Luke’s Church Tower, Kinoulton, Nottinghamshire (2011–2025)

Data sources
• 2011–2018: Carol Collins’ Excel records (monitoring supported by Alan Wilkins)
• 2019–present: Chris Dredge’s annual Excel records (monitoring supported by Alan Wilkins)

Nest box provision
An identical framework of 10 integral nest boxes was installed on each elevation of the church tower louvres:
• North: 2011
• East: 2012
• West & South: 2015
Total nest boxes available from 2015 onwards: 40

Early establishment phase (2011–2014)

2011 – Project inception (10 boxes: North)
• First local swifts: 8 May
• First nest box entry: 18 May
• Chicks first heard: 26 July
• Latest occupation: 8 August
• Breeding outcome:
• Box 2: 2 chicks fledged (3rd egg unhatched)
Total fledged: 2

2012 – Expansion to east elevation (20 boxes)
• First local swifts: 10 May
• Box 2 reoccupied: 13 May
• First use of East boxes (Box 12): 25 June
• Latest occupation: 8 August
• Breeding outcome:
• Box 2: 2 fledged
• Box 12: nest begun, no eggs laid
Context: Oxford Museum of Natural History reported a poor swift year due to the wettest June on record.
Total fledged: 2

2013 – Disturbance and low productivity (20 boxes)
• First local swift: 8 May
• First nest occupation: 14 May (Box 12)
• Latest record: 8 August
• Breeding outcome:
• Box 2: 2 chicks hatched; 1 died after bee disturbance, 1 fledged
• Box 12: eggs laid but failed (bee disturbance)
• Evidence of visits to 6 boxes by season end
Total fledged: 1

2014 – Recovery and wider uptake (20 boxes)
• First local swift: 1 May
• First nest occupation: 7 May
• Latest occupation: 29 August
• Breeding outcome:
• Box 2: 3 fledged
• Box 12: 2 fledged (1 egg unhatched)
• Box 11: 2 fledged
• Box 20: 2 fledged
• 4 active nests; 12 additional boxes showed use
Total fledged: 9

Expansion and consolidation (2015–2018)

2015 – Full tower provision (40 boxes)
• First nest occupation: 10 May
• Latest occupation: 29 August
• Breeding outcome:
• Box 2: 3 fledged
• Box 12: 2 eggs laid, failed
• Box 11: two failed attempts
• Box 15: 1 fledged
• Box 20: 2 fledged
• Box 4: 2 fledged
Total fledged: 8

2016 – Major increase in breeding success
• First nest occupation: 5 May
• Latest occupation: 30 August
• Breeding outcome:
• 11 breeding pairs
• 20 chicks fledged
• 5 additional boxes with partial nests
Total fledged: 20

2017 – Continued growth
• First nest occupation: 4 May
• Latest occupation: 12 August
• Breeding outcome:
• 14 nests
• 26 chicks fledged
Total fledged: 26

2018 – Strong productivity
• First nest occupation: 7 May
• Latest occupation: 2 September
• Breeding outcome:
• 18 nests
• 37 chicks fledged
Total fledged: 37

Camera monitoring and mature colony phase (2019–2025)

2019 – High occupancy
• First local swift: 2 May
• First nest occupation: 11 May
• Latest occupation: 14 September
• Occupancy: 32 of 40 boxes used
• Breeding outcome:
• ≥22 breeding pairs
• 43 chicks fledged from 21 nests
• 1 chick mortality
• 1 nest with eggs failed
Total fledged: 43

2020 – Covid-19 disruption
• Limited access until 7 August
• Occupancy estimated at 30 boxes
• Breeding outcome (estimated):
• 9 chick deaths
• 1 fledgling found dead outside tower
• Final fledging: 4 September (Box 2)
• Last adult departed: 5 September
Context: National reports linked high mortality to cold, wet weather and low insect availability.
Estimated total fledged: ≥30

2021 – Return to normal monitoring
• First local swift: 2 May
• First camera record: 9 May (Box 37)
• Last fledging: 6 September
• Occupancy: 30 boxes
• Breeding outcome:
• 26 breeding pairs
• 39 chicks fledged from 19 nests
• No adult or chick deaths
Total fledged: 39

2022 – High productivity with some losses
• First nest occupation: 9 May
• Occupancy: 26 boxes
• Breeding outcome:
• 25 breeding pairs
• 46 chicks fledged from 23 nests
• 6 chick deaths (mainly from 3-chick broods)
• Very late fledging: 23 September
Total fledged: 46

2023 – Record survival and early season
• Earliest returns recorded (late April)
• Occupancy: 26 boxes
• Breeding outcome:
• 24 breeding pairs
• 52 chicks hatched and all survived
• First fledging: 18 July
• Last adult departed: 23 August
Total fledged: 52

2024 – More pairs, lower productivity
• Earliest returns again recorded
• Occupancy: 31 boxes
• Breeding outcome:
• 29 breeding pairs
• 44 chicks fledged from 22 nests
• 4 chick deaths
• 7 nests failed to hatch eggs
Total fledged: 44

2025 – Record fledging year
• Extensive camera coverage (32 cameras)
• Occupancy: 33 boxes
• Breeding outcome:
• 31 resident pairs; 28 breeding pairs
• 54 chicks fledged
• Only one very young chick lost
• No complete nest failures
Total fledged: 54

Overall summary (2011–2025)

• Colony grew from 1 breeding pair to a stable, high-occupancy site
• Productivity increasingly linked to weather and insect availability
• Camera monitoring significantly improved accuracy and understanding
• Total fledged since 2011: 414 young swifts

Before any work began, we held detailed discussions with the church stewards and members of the Parochial Church Council. It was agreed that no drilling would take place into the tower walls and that no more than one third of the louvred openings would be covered.

Swifts characteristically fly to the highest available entrance when prospecting for breeding sites, which led us to favour the upper third of the louvres, including the crescent-shaped opening. Several designs were drafted before we settled on a single large wooden structure incorporating ten compartments.

Accurate alignment of the entrances with the gaps between the louvres was achieved using a full-size brown paper template. On a bright day the paper was held against the louvre opening and all relevant reference points marked. These were then transferred into a working drawing, with additional detail added in stages. The final form of the structure was determined by the existing church fabric and the dimensions and design of the louvres themselves.

We agreed standard internal dimensions for each compartment: 8 inches wide, 8 inches high and a minimum length of 10 inches. Although swifts are known to breed successfully in more confined spaces, these dimensions were chosen to allow room for movement, wing exercise and adequate air circulation within an enclosed structure. Each entrance measures 28 mm high by 45 mm wide, a size that prevents occupation by starlings before the swifts return. The chambers are left open
throughout the winter and temporarily blocked in mid-February, then reopened when the first swifts are reported arriving in England, usually in mid-April.

From the outset, we also had to consider access constraints within the tower and the small size of the access hatch. It became clear that the structure would need to be dismantled and effectively ‘flat-packed’ once constructed. All components were carried up the tower individually and then carefully reassembled in situ.

We were fortunate that the area above the bells provided a solid boarded floor and a safe working environment. Our principal health and safety concern was the large church clock bell in the corner, which tolled every hour. Ear defenders were essential, as was setting a mobile phone alarm with a five-minute warning — a routine that quickly became second nature.

Before any work began, we held detailed discussions with the church stewards and members of the Parochial Church Council. It was agreed that no drilling would take place into the tower walls and that no more than one third of the louvred openings would be covered.

Swifts characteristically fly to the highest available entrance when prospecting for breeding sites, which led us to favour the upper third of the louvres, including the crescent-shaped opening. Several designs were drafted before we settled on a single large wooden structure incorporating ten compartments.

Accurate alignment of the entrances with the gaps between the louvres was achieved using a full-size brown paper template. On a bright day the paper was held against the louvre opening and all relevant reference points marked. These were then transferred into a working drawing, with additional detail added in stages. The final form of the structure was determined by the existing church fabric and the dimensions and design of the louvres themselves.

We agreed standard internal dimensions for each compartment: 8 inches wide, 8 inches high and a minimum length of 10 inches. Although swifts are known to breed successfully in more confined spaces, these dimensions were chosen to allow room for movement, wing exercise and adequate air circulation within an enclosed structure. Each entrance measures 28 mm high by 45 mm wide, a size that prevents occupation by starlings before the swifts return. The chambers are left open
throughout the winter and temporarily blocked in mid-February, then reopened when the first swifts are reported arriving in England, usually in mid-April.

From the outset, we also had to consider access constraints within the tower and the small size of the access hatch. It became clear that the structure would need to be dismantled and effectively ‘flat-packed’ once constructed. All components were carried up the tower individually and then carefully reassembled in situ.

We were fortunate that the area above the bells provided a solid boarded floor and a safe working environment. Our principal health and safety concern was the large church clock bell in the corner, which tolled every hour. Ear defenders were essential, as was setting a mobile phone alarm with a five-minute warning — a routine that quickly became second nature.