Make your own Swift Box with Northern Ireland Swift Society

Join us for a workshop on providing a Home for Swifts! 

A lack of Nest Sites has been identified as the major cause of an over 50% decline in nesting swift numbers. 

You will look at this issue, in a very practical way, by exploring a range of commercially available nest boxes, and a simply made homemade wooden alternative. We will look at some other interesting options. Participants will have an opportunity to assemble and take home their own swift nest box. Materials provided.

About the tutors 

Peter Cush has a lifelong interest in nature. In his work as a Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) he specialised in Urban Nature.  He first encountered Swifts when he was 10  years old and has been observing and studying them ever since. A founder member of the Northern Ireland Swift Group (NISG) he has been a speaker at 5 International Swift Conferences, as well as many UK and Irish events. He never ceases to be amazed at his and others fascination with this fantastic species. 

Mark Smyth first encountered swifts as a boy in Antrim town. He gradually became more and more involved in their conservation throughout the town and then all over Northern Ireland.  He is a founder member of the Northern Ireland Swift Group (NISG) and has a breeding colony of swifts in nest boxes on his house. High definition cameras study every aspect of their breeding behaviour. He rings the birds and has carried out Geolocator studies on them, discovering that they travel as far as Mozambique and back every year.