AfS Nest forms
Photo: Paul Wren
Swifts move into nest boxes with nest forms much more quickly than nest boxes without nest forms. There is also some evidence that Swifts are more likely to attempt breeding in their first year of occupancy. This is important because with an average life span of 7 years, Swifts only have 4 or 5 breeding seasons, so an increase of 1 is significant.
However, we have had reports that with a nest form, Swifts do not bring in as much nest material so, in the case of a flat-bottomed nest form, the eggs roll around, are less likely to get properly incubated and are more likely to get knocked out.
After a breeding season, it is not uncommon to find abandoned eggs on the floor of the box. While many Swifts breed successfully on flat-bottomed nest forms, maybe we can do even better.
So is there a way of keeping the advantages of nest forms without incurring potential disadvantages?
Made like a swift would
After measuring a number of natural nests we have designed a shape that attempts to emulate a natural nest.
Moulded from a mixture of plaster of Paris and recycled sawdust from our workshop, the concave part is 75mm diameter and 18 mm deep. A swift’s egg is about 16mm diameter. Eggs should gravitate towards the centre. It has a vertical inside rim which should help keep the eggs in. The 'steps' hopefully help any displaced chick to clamber back in.
The 2 versions available are for the corner or against the side of a nest box.
A cross section is shown below.
£4.50 each plus VAT and shipping
