Screaming parties and nests (including urgently reporting blocked or suspected blocked nests).

Firstly, is it a Swift, Swallow or Housemartin? If you’re unsure, this video should help!

If you are reporting a blocked or suspected blocked site, please email us immediately as well as completing the form. Our form contains no personal details, and emails/details will be treated with strictest confidence.

Looking out for swifts is so important. If we don’t know where they are, we can’t protect them! Recording a nest or screaming parties can be done by sending your survey findings here. We do not store any personal information, only what is provided on the form.

Anyone can submit records of breeding swifts. Building a picture of where they are nesting around Sheffield enables local conservation for swifts to be focused in the right places. All your valuable records will be made available to those interested in swifts and their conservation: local authority planners, architects, ecologists, developers, and conservation groups.

Swift Mapper

The RSPB have developed the Swift Mapper for the general public to use. It’s great for finding out where swifts have been recorded in your area, and you can upload your findings there too, but sending us your information will reach the people in Sheffield who really matter.

Can you undertake more comprehensive swift surveying for us?

Please contact us if you would like to undertake some more comprehensive swift surveying.

The Objective of a swift survey

To identify and record the exact location of Swift nest sites in and around Sheffield in order to:

• protect nest sites in case of property renovation, repair etc
• diversify and expand existing colonies by possible provision of nest bricks
• raise public awareness of the plight of Swifts

Location

Let us know where you’d like to survey by emailing us here. It could just be your road, your estate or even a particular section on a map.
We would hope that you would be able to repeat the survey at least twice a month (Mid-May to mid -August) so don’t take on too much. If you prefer, we could allocate an area for you to survey.
When surveying, avoid areas where access is limited (eg, large private properties with inaccessible grounds or blocks of private gardens behind terraced housing).

Recording your findings

Again, please record your survey findings on here. We do not store any personal information, only what is provided on the form.

When to survey

Time of Year:

The Swift breeding season takes place mid-May, June & July (a few birds stay into August and even Sept, usually because their breeding has been delayed by loss of eggs or the late arrival of a mate).
It would be fantastic if you could carry out at least two surveys per month from late May until mid-August. If you’d like to do more than that, feel free. Do record the start and end times of your survey as well as the weather conditions, as this can affect the behaviour of swifts.

Swifts arrive back in “waves”:

• Breeding birds start arriving the first week of May
• 2nd & 3rd year non-breeders arrive back from late May onwards
• 1st year birds arrive in June

Time of day:

Surveys should be carried out in the evening, during periods of peak low flying swift activity, usually between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, timed to finish before dusk, but an hour before dusk would be fine if that’s all you can manage.

Length of survey:

There is no set length of time for the survey but do cover the square or road thoroughly. Spend more time in areas where you have already observed low flying screaming parties, arcs or birds disappearing into a potential nest site.

Conditions:

Carry out surveys in dry, still conditions.

What you are looking for:

Swifts typically nest in:

• open eaves in our roofs
• in holes in walls where pipes have been removed
• under flashings around chimneys and sky lights
• in gables behind barge boards
• under loose roof tles
• in swift boxes and bricks

The following information are indicators as to where swifts might have a nest:

• Screaming parties or Swifts flying at roof height.
  Please take a moment to watch this video of a ‘screaming party’, or search ‘Screaming common swifts flying around in circles – Holstebro, Denmark’.
• The presence of low flying screaming parties indicates the presence of a nest site close by. Listening out for screaming parties is a good guide to where to start looking for actual nest sites. Record all low flying swift parties (within approximately 20m of rooftops, or 50m off the ground) and make a note if the swift party were heard screaming.

At the beginning of the season screaming parties will be composed of breeding adults but as the season progresses the size and frequency of these parties will be boosted by the later arrival of non-breeders. Please record the number of swifts in these parties.

Arcs and Bangers:

As soon as a low flying party is seen, watch the flight path carefully and identify any parts of a building (usually the lower edge of a roof/gable) where the party comes within 1-2 metres. This is called an ‘arc’. Please note down which part of the building the swifts fly close to (eg. Left hand barge board front of house, half way down). You may even hear a ‘tap’ as a flying swift bangs its wing to see if anyone is already nesting there. That’s a banger! Please record the exact point wherever possible.

Nesting Swifts:

Sometimes, especially where a nest has been established for a number of years, the adult birds will sneak in without warning. You might just catch the movement in the corner of your eye. Watch out for any swifts entering a spot and disappearing. If they don’t come back out, there may be on a nest, possibly feeding young, and quietly trying not to attract predators.

Revisit that site and look out for a swelling in their throat – they are carrying chick food. This is the information we desperately need to help us protect that nest.
Once the eggs hatch, the swiftlets become increasingly demanding, so both adult Swifts will be accessing the nest to supply food. The best time to look for nest sites is when both adults are feeding young. Please return to the nest site and watch for frequent visits.

Your safety:

Your safety is of utmost importance. If possible, carry out surveys with someone else.
Carry a charged mobile phone and let people know where you’re going. If possible, wear light or reflective clothing or a high vis vest – they are very fetching. Do be aware of traffic. It’s so easy to be distracted and step into the road to get a better look at a particular nest.

Privacy of others:

Swifts are likely to be nesting or flying around private properties. Do use your discretion when carrying out your surveys and avoid any behaviour that could be seen as intruding on people’s privacy. Don’t use binoculars.
Perhaps carry a clip board and engage passers-by and explain what you’re doing and why. Many nests have been found by chatting with neighbours whilst surveying.