LDBWS  SWIFTS STUDY  2004 June 2004

There is a 'Concern for Swifts' that most building upgrades reduce the options for Swifts and there is a growing amount of information on how to provide nesting sites in favoured areas.

In Lancaster and District we do not have a thorough knowledge of the numbers and distribution of Swifts.  We would like to make a start at remedying this.

FIRST YEAR OBJECTIVES:

1. Confirm the distribution

2. Check whether the Swifts do their communal screaming flights at regular times. The estimate from BWP  is around 0730 and around 2100. This is consistent with reports from Swift internet sites and preliminary observation here.

3. Get a first estimate of numbers in various colonies by counting the birds in the screaming flights as best we can during these displays.

a)   on a fine day between May 12 and May 19  - breeders

b)   on a fine day between June 9 and June 16    - non-breeders

4. Start to catalogue buildings used

PROCESS:

Pick an area and log it with us. Do your observations and copy them to us as soon as finished.  Send to:

                        phil@renniect.fsnet.co.uk
                        Phil Holland      2 Rennie Court  LA1 5XE