Very few Swift breeding sites in Sussex were submitted for the 2006 Bird Report, and no colonies of greater than 3 pairs were identified.  This is bad news for a County which in past years has had numerous breeding records. 

We need to identify as many places as possible where recent breeding has taken place and try to stop this awful regression in Swift numbers. Please can members look in their old notebooks and let me know any Chuches, or buildings where Swifts might possibly have bred last year.  We can possibly help if scaffolding is erected to repair these buildings by putting up boxes now.

Our first aim must be to safeguard the established colonies in Sussex and from there work outwards by erecting more suitably placed boxes and bricks in due course. 

As no one has come forward to be a Swift Champion I am happy to start this project to ensure that the SOS is seen to be committed to the conservation of as many breeding Swift sites in Sussex as possible.  Please send your records of Swift breeding sites to:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Audrey Wende.