Leicestershire's ambitious swift conservation project is celebrating a significant milestone after six breeding attempts were recorded this summer in swift nest boxes installed across the county.
The breeding attempts are the first signs of success from Leicestershire County Council's externally funded Swift Action for Swifts project, delivered in partnership with the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS).
The project, which concluded last year, saw more than 364 swift nest boxes and 150 swift callers installed across Leicestershire with funding from Natural England's Species Recovery Programme.
Monitoring of the boxes continues and, while data is still being collected from some recipients, six breeding attempts by swifts have already been confirmed this season. Several boxes have also been used by other bird species, including house sparrows, great tits and blue tits.
Swifts have experienced significant declines in recent decades, largely due to the loss of traditional nesting sites in buildings and a reduction in insect numbers.
The early signs of breeding success are particularly encouraging as swifts do not usually begin breeding until they are three to four years old.
We're delighted to see the first breeding attempts recorded in the swift boxes installed through this project. Conservation work often requires patience, especially with a species like the swift which does not start breeding until several years after fledging.
To see six breeding attempts so soon after installation is a positive result and demonstrates the value of providing safe nesting opportunities for these remarkable birds.
We're grateful to Natural England, the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society and the many residents, communities and organisations that have supported this work.
Person:Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for the environment
The importance of protecting and supporting swift populations has been recognised through the inclusion of the species as a priority within the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (LNRS).
Building on the success of the project, the council has secured additional funding through a Natural England bequest to expand nest box provision across the county. Future installations will focus on towns and villages where swifts are already known to be present, helping to strengthen existing colonies and support local community-led conservation efforts.
The swift partnership is open to anyone with an interest in swift conservation. For more information about the Swift Partnership, including how to join, email EnvironmentTeam@leics.gov.uk
More information about how to help swifts is available from Swift Conservation or the RSPB.