First Crieff Walk of 2022
27/05/22 22:33
It has been a cold, windy and moist May in Strathearn, which could adversely impact the success of swift breeding in 2022. Fingers are crossed for some milder weeks to come.
There was a walk around Crieff last Friday, just to see what we could see and to invite people who might be willing spotters. It was great to meet the five people who came with us and some of the people we met along the way. We saw no more than half a dozen swifts during the evening but it was a pleasure to watch them. Hopefully another wave will be arriving soon.
We were sad to see two, possibly three, of the nest sites we visit each year were sealed up by building works. Had we known we could probably have helped the owners to design a solution which would have retained the nests.
If anyone knows of planned work which might affect an existing nest, please let us know. We would be happy to try to find a way to avoid losing the nest, while maintaining the building.
Lastly, we have added a Messenger chat window to the web site blog and links pages, which we hope will be useful: https://www.cgstudio.uk/csp/apodiblog/
There was a walk around Crieff last Friday, just to see what we could see and to invite people who might be willing spotters. It was great to meet the five people who came with us and some of the people we met along the way. We saw no more than half a dozen swifts during the evening but it was a pleasure to watch them. Hopefully another wave will be arriving soon.
We were sad to see two, possibly three, of the nest sites we visit each year were sealed up by building works. Had we known we could probably have helped the owners to design a solution which would have retained the nests.
If anyone knows of planned work which might affect an existing nest, please let us know. We would be happy to try to find a way to avoid losing the nest, while maintaining the building.
Lastly, we have added a Messenger chat window to the web site blog and links pages, which we hope will be useful: https://www.cgstudio.uk/csp/apodiblog/
Crieff Swift Project nestboxes
27/09/21 18:09
After a couple of false starts, because of weather and COVID restrictions, it is with much relief we can announce that all the nest boxes from Tayside Biodiversity Partnership were erected yesterday and today. It looked, for a time, that it might all have to be done in torrential rain but the rain abated and we got started at Ardvreck School on Monday morning. The Ardvreck and Hosh swifts we will follow in more detail in coming seasons.
Daniéle Muir and Mike from Alba Platforms did an amazing job in often difficult circumstances. Now we need to make sure all the nests are supported with call systems, ready for next May!
New nestboxes in Crieff Pt. 2
26/09/21 18:12
After a protracted delay the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership swift nest-boxes are going to be installed on Monday and Tuesday at various locations around Crieff Crieff. More information with be forthcoming but look out for the cherry-picker at work over the next couple of days.
Swift Mapper
30/06/21 18:15
Crieff Swift Project has started to copy information over to the RSPB sponsored SwiftMapper site at: Linked Texthttps://www.swiftmapper.org.uk
If you send us information on nesting sites we will copy these into the SwiftMapper information when we publish them in batches. The What3Words.com method of notifying a location to us is still considered to be the best but we will work with whatever you are able to submit.
Swift attack
30/05/21 18:17
Near the end of May, following some pretty horrible cold weather, Hugh reported having seen renewed activity at the triple box; a party of three, two of which seem to be using the left box and possible use of the right box and a group of seven visited on the 30th. Very strangely, of these seven, two broke off to attack the small black loudspeaker which dangles underneath the boxes. The speaker had been switched off for over a week, so this was very perplexing.
Hugh wondered if the swifts had mistaken the small black object for a hole, or perhaps a predator climbing up the wall to the nests. The swifts latched on in attack fashion and, when Hugh went up to the bedroom to reel it in, one of the swifts was still attached!
Hugh wondered if the swifts had mistaken the small black object for a hole, or perhaps a predator climbing up the wall to the nests. The swifts latched on in attack fashion and, when Hugh went up to the bedroom to reel it in, one of the swifts was still attached!