Volunteer Swift Survey Guidance
This guide brings together the key survey methods and field experience used by Derbyshire Swift Conservation (DSC) to help volunteers collect accurate, consistent, and useful Swift data.
Across the UK, most Swift conservation work is carried out by volunteers. Your observations help us identify nesting colonies, monitor changes over time, and protect Swift nest sites.
Why Swift Surveys Matter
Swift surveys help us to:
- Locate and confirm nesting sites
- Monitor active breeding colonies
- Track changes in Swift populations
- Support conservation planning and protection
- Build reliable long-term records across Derbyshire
By using standardised methods, volunteers can collect data that is scientifically useful and comparable between years and locations. You can find out more about the challenges facing Swifts here.
Understanding Swift Behaviour
Knowing a little about the Swift breeding season helps explain why we survey at particular times.
When Swifts Arrive
Swifts are only in the UK for a short breeding season, usually from late April until early August.
Typical breeding timeline
- Arrival (late April): males often arrive first to reclaim nest sites
- Pair bonding and nest repair: several days to a week
- Egg laying: approximately 10 days after pairing
- Incubation: around 19–20 days
- Hatching: usually mid-June
- Peak feeding period: mid-June to late July
The busiest period for adult birds visiting nests is when chicks are being fed — which is why this is the best survey window. Older breeding birds often arrive earlier. Younger birds may arrive later and may not breed in their first year.
Before You Begin: Choose Your Survey Area
Think about places where Swifts may already nest.
Helpful starting points include:
- Existing local knowledge
- Historic Swift records
- Reports of “screaming parties”
- Older buildings with roof gaps or eaves
- Terraces or streets with previous Swift activity
You can also use Swiftmapper to check for records nearby.
Look Out for “Screaming Parties”
These are groups of Swifts flying fast and calling loudly around buildings.
They are important because:
- They often indicate nearby breeding colonies
- Young non-breeding birds investigate potential nest sites
- They help identify areas worth surveying further
Preliminary walks in May can be very useful for locating these activity areas.
Choosing the Right Survey Method
DSC mainly uses two core methods:
- Street Surveys (Survey Walks)
- Constant Effort Static Counts (“Statics”)
A third method — Call-Back Surveys — can also help identify new nest areas early in the season.
1. Street Surveys (Survey Walks)
Best for:
- Surveying several nests along a street
- Monitoring larger areas
- Checking known nesting streets
- Finding additional nests nearby
This is the most commonly used survey method.
How It Works
Surveyors walk slowly along a street or transect while:
- Recording active nests
- Watching for birds entering or leaving buildings
- Looking for previously unknown nests
At known nest locations, surveyors stop for around 20 minutes to check whether nests are occupied.
Why We Use Street Surveys
Surveying every nest individually takes a huge amount of time.
Street surveys allow volunteers to:
- Cover larger areas efficiently
- Monitor multiple nests in a single session
- Identify new nesting sites near known colonies
They work particularly well where several nests occur close together.
How Long Does a Street Survey Take?
Typically:
- Around 1 to 1.5 hours
- Longer streets or busy colonies may require additional visits
Best Time of Day
Street surveys work best:
- In the morning
- Or in the evening
Avoid afternoon surveys whenever possible, as Swift activity is usually lower then.
2. Constant Effort Static Counts (“Statics”)
Best for:
- Individual buildings
- Short terraces
- Confirming nest entrances
- Detailed nest monitoring
This is often the most accurate survey method.
How It Works
Observers remain stationary and continuously watch a building or terrace.
Each survey:
- Uses two observers where possible
- Lasts for a minimum of 1 hour
- Records all Swift activity during that period
Surveys can be extended if needed to confirm nest entrances or wait for adults returning to roost.
Why Static Counts Matter
Static counts are a constant effort technique.
Because every survey lasts the same amount of time, we can:
- Compare sites fairly
- Compare data between years
- Assess whether populations are changing
Without standardised survey effort, we can only map nests — not measure trends reliably.
Important: Keep a Time Log
If surveys continue beyond 1 hour:
- Record what was seen in the first hour
- Record additional observations separately
This allows the standardised one-hour counts to remain comparable.
Best Time for Static Counts
Evenings are best.
Ideal survey window:
- 7pm–9:30pm
- Sometimes later in midsummer (up to 10pm)
Warm, still summer evenings are ideal conditions.
Staying late can help confirm exact nest entrances when adults return to roost.
3. Call-Back Surveys
Best for:
- Preliminary surveys
- Locating previously unknown nest areas
- Early season work (May–June)
How It Works
Two volunteers walk a street while playing short bursts of Swift calls from a mobile phone.
Nesting birds may respond from inside buildings.
Important Rules
- Play calls only once at each stop
- Use short bursts (around 30 seconds)
- Never repeatedly play calls at the same location
- Avoid disturbing nesting birds
DSC can provide suitable Swift call recordings.
Best Time
- Early morning (around 6am)
- Low traffic noise improves listening conditions
Why Repeat Visits Are Essential
Repeat surveys greatly improve accuracy.
They help us:
- Confirm active nests
- Identify exact nest entrances
- Distinguish entrances from exits
- Detect multiple nests using the same area
Swifts enter nests extremely quickly, so seeing repeated behaviour is important.
How Often Should Surveys Be Done?
Each survey location should normally be visited twice:
- One visit in June
- One visit in July
Busy streets or difficult sites may require additional visits.
DSC is also trialling:
- May + June + July surveys in some areas
Weather Conditions
Always Survey in Dry Weather. Poor weather dramatically reduces Swift activity.
Why?
- Wet weather reduces flying insects
- Swifts travel long distances to find food
- During storms they may travel hundreds of miles away
- Adults return to nests less frequently in poor weather
Surveying in rain or damp conditions usually produces very few records.
Best Survey Conditions
Ideal weather conditions are:
- Dry
- Warm
- Still
- Clear evenings
The best time of day is:
- Evening
- Or any time before midday
The worst time is generally:
What Information Should Be Recorded?
DSC uses a standard survey form found here. Make a new submission for each nest observed (for compound nesting boxes with multiple nests, use field 10 to tell us how many nests are in use at that site).
Please record the following for each active or suspected nest:
- Email address of observer* (For administrative and data validation purposes)
- Name(s) of observer(s)*
- Date and time of observation*
- Start or end or survey (Use this field if the submission either marks the first or last of the suggested 1 hour survey period)
- Weather (Weather at time of observation—ideal conditions are dry, warm, still and clear)
- Location* (Full property address including post code)
- Grid reference* (Please use the full 10 figure reference as provided using OS map)
- Building Aspect (relative)* (Position of nest relative to the orientation of the building, e.g. front, back, right-hand side, etc)
- Building Aspect (cardinal)* (Position of nest relative to points on a compass, e.g. North, South, East, West)
- Number of Nests at Location (Only complete this if there is more than one nest at this specific grid location)
- Building Feature* (Adjacent notable building features, e.g. window, downpipe, alarm box, gutter)
- Nest entrance* (Using Building feature as a reference, describe as accurately as possible the exact location)
- Artificial or natural nest* (Label as natural, box or brick)
- Risk Assessment* (Assess perceived risk to nest as Red, Amber, Green)
- Notes (Any additional observations of interest, e.g. notable bird behaviour, risk, etc)
Photographs: Please do take photographs of nests if possible. Please clearly name them with the grid reference entered on the form in the format "DSC-SNS-SKXXXXXXXX.jpg" and email them to info@derbyshireswiftconservation.org.
The more precise the nest entrance description, the more useful the record becomes.
Good Survey Practice
Always
- Survey safely near roads and traffic
- Respect residents and private property
- Be patient and observant
- Record information clearly and accurately
- Use DSC methods consistently
Remember
Even surveys where no nests are found are still valuable.
Negative results help improve our understanding of Swift distribution.
Support and Resources
Derbyshire Swift Conservation can provide:
- Swift call recordings
- Training and guidance materials
- Advice on identifying nest sites
Good luck!