Bishops Waltham 2025

You can read the last blog that I did in January 2024 on the progress of the Bishops Waltham Swift colony here. That covered the years up to 2023; and in 2024 numbers remained fairly static to the previous year with a small decline from 91 to 88 in the number of chicks reared. This was put down to the weather patterns in the early half of the season, which led to cold overnight temperatures and mornings up to the middle of June which meant that fewer insects were flying, making it harder for Swifts to find food.

Ady Smith at the Crown Inn where Swifts nested in a box for the first time in 2025

But that all changed in 2025! Many groups of insects have done really well in the warm weather, including greenfly here in Hampshire which has led once again to a record number of young Swifts: 108 young fledged this year, which was an increase of nearly 23% on the previous year. This has been due to the installation of many Swift boxes by Ady Smith. And that doesn’t include the three pairs which were found to have already fledged their young before ringers got to the box. So the true increase may have been nearer to 30% in 2025!

There are also thought to be around ten pairs nesting in natural sites in the town, seven of them in this apartment block in Lower Lane.

Apartment block in Lower Lane

Bishops Waltham – young Swifts reared in boxes.

Year	Number of young
2019	22
2020	32
2021	50
2022	72
2023	91
2024	88
2025	108

And still the scientists (including Lord Krebs) falsely maintain that it is a loss of insects that has caused the massive and ongoing decline of Swifts nationally over the last 40 years; and their latest nonsense that a perceived fall in first year survival is the most likely cause! When will they wake up and acknowledge that the real reason is the loss of nesting sites as our homes are insulated and have uPVC fascias and soffits installed? There is now so much, albeit mainly circumstantial evidence, that this is the reason for the decline of Swifts, and that the effect of the 'loss of insects' is likely very close to zero.

There was an interesting article in the Guardian recently that revealed work done by Dr Mansi Mungee, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leeds, that used Met Office radar data for the first time to track the trillions of insects flying above the UK. It revealed that between 2014 and 2021, daytime insect numbers remained relatively stable or even increased in southern regions, but nocturnal airborne insects declined overall, especially in the far north.

But I digress… Three new areas of Bishops Waltham have been colonised by Swifts for the first time this year using boxes installed by Ady and his team. Birds have also nested, again for the first time, in a box on the Crown Inn in the centre of the town. These boxes were installed at the start of the project more than 20 years ago. It is hoped that this will in turn lead to the use of the boxes in St Georges Square close by.

At times 60 birds could be seen flying overhead. Ady also tells me that this year there were record numbers of single birds fledging from boxes. He feels sure that this was due to disturbance by the many younger birds all seeking an unoccupied box causing general mayhem in the occupied boxes and causing an egg or eggs to be pushed out of the nest.

He says that a new Sand martin wall will be created during the winter on the site below and many artificial House Martin cups will also be installed to increase their population in the town.

Bishops Waltham pond where the new Sand Martin wall is to be constructed

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has recently recognised Ady’s passion and long-term commitment to wildlife. They say on their website:

‘Adrian Smith from Bishop’s Waltham received the Individual Action for Nature Award. Adrian has devoted years to reviving the town’s swift population. Working almost single-handedly, Adrian has built and installed hundreds of swift boxes, raised funds to support the project, and monitored hundreds of young swifts with the assistance of the local ringing group through ringing and recording (which is important data for the British Trust for Ornithology). His tireless efforts, passion, and deep knowledge have inspired the local community to get involved, creating a network of swift enthusiasts and dramatically increasing awareness of the species. Adrian’s dedication has made him a local hero, with his work recognised for its lasting impact on wildlife.’

Megan McCubbin (President of HIWWT) presented the award to Adrian Smith

Well done Ady – it’s very well deserved!

Tim Norriss

Hampshire Swifts