Minutes of a meeting of the committee of the Ryburgh Wildlife Group held at Stone House on September 14th 2026
Present: Mike Rundle, (Chair), Neil Dandy, Nick Parsons, Barley Wilson, Ian Wilson, Gill Waldron and David Gittens, invited member.
Apologies: David Cooling
- Financial Report: The account stands at £1429.83
- Initiative to encourage increase in local swift, house martin and swallow populations. This major RWG initiative formed the remaining agenda of this meeting and David Gittens, local member from Colkirk, was invited to share his experience since he began to have swift boxes on his property in 2015.
In summary – he has found the box design which attracts nesting birds is one with a sloping roof and overhang and an entrance at the side or underneath. With a nest cup – an extra piece of plywood with a circle removed from the middle to give an indentation to hold the eggs, the birds then build up the height. David makes his own (see below), but this box type is sold by RSPB, currently priced at £50.
Multiple nests, at least 2, preferable because they are communal birds when breeding. He now has 4 and has seen 27 fledged in the last 7 years. It is essential to have an audio caller, but one serves his 4 nests. System around £60, can be charged and switched with Bluetooth, lead through a window, attached to the side of a box. Tweeet a good system. Maybe a trial for neighbours but works well limiting calls to morning and late afternoon and early evening, parent swifts are likely to be hunting during the day. Said to be very helpful for attracting bumpers later in the season.
Pre requisites for installation Must be at least 4 metres above ground, which excludes bungalows, best on North facing wall, good on W and E, if must be S facing, must be painted white. Risk in hot summers is swift nestlings abandoning the nest. Good to add an extra ventilation hole which helps keep cool. Must be a clear flight line into the nest, preferably 5 m or more. Swift bricks only really good on new builds. Installation much easier with use of a template to position screw holes on the wall before using it to position screws through the bracket on the box.
Should be installed before end of April. House martin boxes easier, position less critical, but need to be in place by early March.
Acceptability Swifts very clean, no droppings, martins very productive of guano, some households strongly dislike that. Generally David experiences enthusiasm, knows of some instances of whole streets or communities putting up boxes after one or two people lead it – this echoes Ian and Barley’s experience when casually in the village at the end of the summer, some residents expressed a good level of interest.
There was discussion as to how to proceed. Important to stress recent figures – swifts are on the red list, and the UK population has declined 70% in 30 years. Also very necessary to warn those interested that it is unlikely to show quick results – it might take a year or two to become established although the calls do help. Nick said that the rate limiting factor may be the number of birds rather than the number of nests available now the population has declined so much, so it may be a slow process which residents need to be conscious of so that they aren’t disappointed and abandon support. Should the RWG initiative start slowly by communicating initially with members only, and working with small numbers , or to go all out to the village by general publicity eg flyer drop /public meeting to get as much interest before next breeding season as possible? What should the offer from RWG be? It is clear that most people who would consider having nest boxes need advice about what, where and how. David will share his expertise in building with Ian ( 12m Eastern ply, one 8×4 sheet makes 6), will last 10+ years with care. RWG to consider arranging the installation by asking for help from enthusiastic, (younger!) ladder climbers in the village. Essential to offer a site visit to survey suitable sites for box erection and to encourage at least 2 boxes at a time.
Next steps Mike has drafted a letter to members but will modify this in light of the discussion and circulate to the committee.
David will rehash an article he wrote and send it to David Cooling for the newsletter. Ian reminded the group that David Cooling is always pleased to have reports or articles for the newsletter.
Publicity in the shop ? Window display – Gill to discuss with Moira.
To work to installation of as many boxes as possible in the village before the end of March. The possibility of helping those in financial hardship remains open, it may be that sponsorship could be attempted.
Nick to coordinate the production of a schedule of the hirundine information gleaned from the village this season.
Further information – online blogs, Facebook ‘All things Swift’, also ‘save our swifts, swallows and house martins’
Book – ‘ Swifts and Us’ Sarah Gibson
The committee thanked David for attendance and for his help.
Date of next meeting: Monday October 19th, 7.00pm Stone House