Dorset Swift Communities

Aim

Help reverse the decline of our charismatic Common Swift through the installation of nest boxes in critical locations across Dorset.

Birds of Poole Harbour are one of the founding members of the Dorset Swift Network, which was established in 2023 with the aim of galvanising community support to drive recovery of the Common Swift across Dorset. Continued loss of nesting sites for the Common Swift due to changes in housing is one of the major causes of their national decline of 60% between 1995-2020 (BTO). These charismatic summer visitors were once a regular sight over towns, breeding in the crevices of buildings,  with their "screaming" calls bringing joy each spring on their return to the UK. Installing nest boxes in areas where there are residual populations is a simple yet effective way of bolstering their population.

This crowdfunder aims to raise money to purchase and install Swift boxes in key areas across Dorset where there are residual small populations of Swift in much need of additional nesting habitat. We want to encourage communities to take ownership of their local Swifts, contributing to their long-term protection, recovery and monitoring by engaging them with this special species.

If we reach our target we will be able to install up to 150 nest boxes free of charge to house and building-owners in priority areas across Dorset, identified and coordinated by the Dorset Swift Network; a partnership between Birds of Poole Harbour, Dorset Bird Club, Swanage Swift Group, Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group, BCP Council and Dorset Council.

Please help us raise £8000 towards this cause!

The Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund will match every donation 2:1, helping us to reach our target. How does it work? By donating £10, we will receive an extra £20 from the fund, matched all the way up to donations of £250. *Update - thank you so much to everyone who has helped us to reach our original target of £8000. All additional funds donated towards our stretch target will be matched by AVIVA Community Fund 1:1*

You can also help the project by adding Swift sightings to Swift Mapper, where you can submit records of nests, screaming parties and installed boxes. We can use this information to help us best target areas for the installation of free nest boxes.

This project successfully funded on 15th December 2023