News

Swift nest boxes installed in Ottery’s tower

Posted on Wednesday 9th April

A picture of Jerry from Devon Swift Project, fixing one of nine swift nest boxes into the window of Ottery's south tower

This week, 63 nest chambers for swifts have been installed in the south tower as part of a project to transform Devon’s churches into “Swift havens”. Jerry from the Devon Swift Project, funded by Devon Birds, installed nine boxes, each with seven chambers, which had been designed to fit into the windows of the bell tower. European swifts are a red-listed species – their population has plummeted by 60 per cent in the UK over the past 25 years, largely due to a reduction in suitable suitable nesting sites. You might think the noise of the bells would disturb them, but research has shown they really aren’t that bothered.