Swift Nest Box by Nestbox Co

The swift is a summer visitor, returning to the UK from Africa in May and nesting until August. A medium sized aerial bird that provides amazing aerobatic displays, particularly in the early evening. Due to new building techniques and materials, and the insulation of older properties, swifts are finding themselves excluded from their usual nesting sites. As a consequence, this is having a huge effect on their numbers, which are declining rapidly (by as much as a third in the past 20 years). This quality nest box is based on the highly successful Zeist design from Holland, with an overhanging front panel and oval entrance hole. Following research and guidance from the Swift Conservation and other bodies, it was decided to reduce the size of the oval entrance hole in 2017 to 28mm x 65mm to reduce the chance of the box being occupied by other species, such as starlings or sparrows. Made from sustainably sourced, precision cut external grade birch plywood the nest box features a single nesting compartment with a removable side for access and easy cleaning. The box has been coated with an animal friendly preservative for durability. The box should be sited at least 5 metres high, ideally under the eaves or an overhang, with clear airspace to the entrance so that swifts can access it at high speed. There are six mounting holes at the sides of the box for easy installation. Providing a nest box is a simple, but effect way of supporting our feathered visitors.