Graham Knight

As the writer of the corvid section of the Herts Bird report, I can't disagree. I can liven up the text for Rook and Raven with meaningful breeding data, but the rest are a struggle

Can you point me towards the Lapwing? I assume it must be hidimg behind the Red Grouse

Opinions, please - Pallid or Common Swift? Whichever it is, the chances of it recently fledging as suggested in the post seem remote

It’s out in time for Christmas. Again! #hertsbirds #ukbirding

Great to be at the Swifts Local Network conference in Lancaster today, hearing so many interesting talks and meeting fellow Swift conservationists.

Events like this really provide inspiration for more Swift conservation work in the future - a big thank you to the organisers

Legacy of a Labour Baroness who voted against Swift Bricks
@hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social

I think the way social media presents conversations like this doesn't help. If this was a face to face discussion it wouldn't end up as an argument.

However, think about it this way. Hertfordshire has around 5000 houses built each year. Is 357 Swift bricks over the last 5 years really enough?

My first comment was in relation to voluntary installation, which is extremely limited. In my experience, developers will do the bare minimum or forget to install at all

If the Homes for Nature commitment is honoured, then it will be excellent news, but experience so far suggests that it won't be

Here is evidence from Hertfordshire as to compliance with planning conditions for Swift bricks. 106 developments visited and less than half of the required bricks installed.

We have no voluntary installations in the county

See my other post. There are 8 bird boxes on a large development, only some of which are Swift bricks. This is almost certainly doing the minimum to comply with a planning requirement

I am not saying there are not Swift bricks, there are, but the vast majority are as a result of planning requirements.

David Wilson are part of Barratt who have installed bricks voluntarily

Read the High Weald post again. It is about how few Swift bricks there are on a large development

Cala Homes have had a commitment to 1 Swift brick per dwelling since 2022. I am unable to find details of any development where they have actually done this.

In Hertfordshire, Cala have installed 1 Swift brick in the last 3 years, and that was incorrectly installed as an external box

Barratt and the Duchy of Cornwall Estate have voluntarily installed them, no others have.

As I have already pointed out, the Hones for Nature commitment started from September 2024. No houses have yet been built in relation to that scheme

I frequently visit building sites to check that Swift bricks have been installed, and at the majority they haven't. When talking to site managers, I regularly get the impression that they have no idea what I am talking about

It is too early to say that. The Homes for Nature commitment that developers have signed up to only applies to planning applications submitted from September 2024, and none of those have been built yet. I doubt that many even have planning permission after a year.

The Duchy survey also found that House Sparrows did not use integrated Sparrow boxes, preferring Swift bricks wherever installed

Swifts are normally the slowest to occupy, however in 2025 they started using the Swift bricks at two of the Duchy sites in small numbers, and this will grow in future years.

I don't understand your point. Universal Swift bricks are used by 4 red-listed species. Why would you install any others?

Much talk about Swift bricks right now. Here is a reminder of the evidence that they are universal nest bricks used by a variety of red-listed species of birds

Duchy of Cornwall's nest box initiative marks 10 years of success - Nansledan A pioneering Duchy of Cornwall initiative to boost biodiversity in its developments by encouraging wild birds to nest in buildings is marking 10 years of

Have a look at theevidence here: 49% of 1289 Swift bricks occupied across Duchy of Cornwall developments, with House Sparrows, Starlings and particularly House Martins all benefitting.

nansledan.com/project-news...

Duchy of Cornwall's nest box initiative marks 10 years of success - Nansledan A pioneering Duchy of Cornwall initiative to boost biodiversity in its developments by encouraging wild birds to nest in buildings is marking 10 years of

But they won't stay empty: this survey is the best evidence of the universal nature of Swift bricks: 49% of 1289 occupied across Duchy of Cornwall developments, with House Sparrows, Starlings and particularly House Martins all benefitting

nansledan.com/project-news...

Duchy of Cornwall's nest box initiative marks 10 years of success - Nansledan A pioneering Duchy of Cornwall initiative to boost biodiversity in its developments by encouraging wild birds to nest in buildings is marking 10 years of

49% of 1289 Swift bricks occupied on Duchy of Cornwall new build estates, with House Sparrows, Starlings and House Martins being the beneficiaries

nansledan.com/project-news...

You have this wrong. Vast majority of houses are suitable. British Standard, BS42021:2022 makes Swift bricks suitable for a variety of small birds as per @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social above. The evidence from the Duchy Bird Box project backs this up

We look forward to getting a copy! All good here in our Minecraft obsessed house, hope you are too

Congratulations!

Could you remind @hertsmerebc.bsky.social and @stalbanscouncil.bsky.social about this please? We comment on planning applications throughout Hertfordshire but these two councils still do not condition Swift bricks on new developments

Kevin, absolutely agree. Very interesting paper which I hadn't read before. Lots to digest in there.

I do have to try and find hope for Swifts when I can. Without it I don't think I could continue Swift conservation work

Swift conservationists seem to be pretty much unanimous: 2025 was an excellent year for nest numbers, brood productivity, and activity levels around colonies.

The main reason seems to be long spells of warm weather without much rain.

Leeds Swifts newsletter September 2025Greetings Swift lovers!Wow, what a summer we’ve had! And a record-breaking one too - on two accounts.Firstly, our Gledhow colony celebrated its best ever year thanks to as near a perfect...

Here is another example of what a great Swift season it was. The newsletter also highlights the fantastic work done by Leeds Swifts: www.leedsswifts.com/post/leeds-s...

Swifts Diary 2025 They’re back! This morning the first 2 swifts were seen exiting their nest boxes in the tower with another party of 11 spotted flying high overhead.

A good example is the famous colony in the tower at the Oxford Natural History Museum, where 93 young fledged, the highest number since 2008

oumnh.ox.ac.uk/swifts-diary...

Swift conservationists seem to be pretty much unanimous: 2025 was an excellent year for nest numbers, brood productivity, and activity levels around colonies.

The main reason seems to be long spells of warm weather without much rain.