Statistics for 2007
This year the first swifts were spotted around the Museum tower on 24th April. Details of nesting pairs and their chicks will be updated here through the summer months.
- 6th May 2007
28 active nests. - 12th May 2007
61 active nests, 4 eggs. - 19th May 2007
Following a cold wet week, many swifts have abandoned the breeding attempt. 3 eggs have been ejected, one dead adult was found, only 26 nests remain active. Warmer weather will improve the situation. - 3rd June 2007
The wet weather last week caused some birds to kick out eggs. 77 active nests, minimum of 19 eggs. - 9th June 2007
This week we have 79 nests occupied, 38 eggs are visible and at least 2 nests have young chicks. The mild warmer weather has encouraged the birds to breed again. - 16th June 2007
Changeable showery weather has resulted in some birds abandoning breeding this week. 80 boxes are occupied, 8 young have hatched, and at least 12 eggs are visible. - 30th June 2007
Due to the cold wet weather only 66 boxes remain active. 53 young visible, 8 or more eggs. - 14th July 2007
74 young counted, 24 young ringed. 7 adults ringed. 56 active nests. No young fledged yet. - 21st July 2007
63 young counted. - 28th July 2007
71 young counted (64 ringed), 15 adults identified, 8 newly ringed adults, 7 young fledged.
- 11th August 2007
There are only 8 young remaining in 5 nests. It has been a poor breeding year, over 70 nests produced only 72 young. Many birds abandoned eggs and most raised one youngster. In 2006 most birds raised 2 or 3 young.
- 18th August 2007
All young fledged. The swifts are heading for Africa, 3 weeks earlier than previous years.
The average numbers of young swifts ringed each year over the last 40 years are:
- 1963-1972 36.7
- 1973-1982 70.4
- 1983-1992 100.0
- 1993-2002 99.2
