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Owthorpe Swift Project

Owthorpe – St Margaret’s Church and Parish Sites

In 2016, six swift nesting boxes were installed behind the louvres on the south side of the St Margaret’s church tower.

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St Margaret’s Church, Owthorpe, lies approximately 2.75 km (as the swift flies) from Kinoulton church. In 2016, six swift nesting boxes were installed behind the louvres on the south side of the tower. Seasonal attraction calls have been played since installation, at socially acceptable times. To date, no occupation of the church tower boxes has been recorded, although swifts have been observed flying close to the tower.

Within the parish of Owthorpe, approximately 2.5 km from Kinoulton, a resident installed a Stimson swift box under the eaves on the east side of a house adjacent to the Nottingham–Grantham Canal in 2019.

In 2020, two additional Stimson boxes were added under the eaves, along with six Peak Boxes installed as a three-tier gable-end apex assembly. Attraction calls are played from early May to late July, typically between 07:00 and 21:00. Playback is controlled by a timer, with separate speakers serving each box group.

In the first season, repeated close fly-bys and “bangers” were recorded from the outset. One swift was observed briefly landing on the pantiles immediately above the first eaves-mounted box.

In the second season, a non-breeding pair occupied box 1 (which is camera-equipped) for approximately six weeks. The birds returned regularly during the day and roosted between 20:30 and 21:15. During this period, a grounded swift found beneath box 1 was successfully rehabilitated and released. Bangers, occasional entry attempts and frequent screaming fly-bys were recorded at the newly installed gable-end boxes.

In the third season, a single swift returned to box 1 and roosted for five nights before abandoning the site. However, at least one swift was recorded entering box 6 in the gable-end assembly repeatedly over several weeks.

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.