Hampshire Swift Survey

The aim of the Hampshire Swift Survey is to find and record as many Swift nest sites as possible across the county. This will help us in three ways. Firstly, by knowing exactly where nests are located we can ensure any planning proposals take full account of this information. Secondly, we can use these data to provide additional nest sites, in the hope of increasing the number of breeding Swifts in Hampshire. Finally, establishing a good estimate of breeding Swifts will help us track the health of the population over years to come. 

​

We now have a database of historical Swift nest site records and looking at this provides another means of adding to our knowledge of breeding Swifts in Hampshire. If you are planning to survey Swifts, or just visiting a new area, why not review the historical database and check whether or not they are still present? The Hampshire Swifts Survey form can be used to log both positive and negative records, especially in the case where sites appear to have been lost.

​

If you are concerned about being able to accurately identify Swifts in the presence of  Swallows or House and Sand Martins, why not click here to see the BTO Identification Guide.

​

The best way to survey Swifts is to think of it as having two stages. The initial stage is to identify postcode-sized areas in Hampshire which contain breeding Swifts by locating low-level screaming parties of Swifts.  Secondly, working within that area, pin-point the exact location of the Swift nests. The first part is quite straightforward, the second part takes more time, persistence and luck. If you can only do the first part that is fine as this information is still valuable. Click on the links for a survey methodology and survey form. 

​

​

​

​