Monday 28 April

They're back! This morning the first 2 swifts were seen exiting their nest boxes in the tower with another party of 11 spotted flying high overhead and beginning to scream. Although a few days before their average arrival date of the 5th of May the warm weather and southerly breezes provided the perfect opportunity for the last leg of their journey from southern Africa. An eagle-eyed volunteer from Oxford Swift City, who monitor the number of breeding sites within the ring road, spotted Oxfordshire's first swift over Farmoor reservoir, a favourite local feeding ground, on 21 April but this is our first report of nesting behaviour here at the Museum

Monday 5 May

After last week’s sighting from the lawn of the first swifts entering the boxes and then increasing numbers seen screaming overhead throughout a particularly warm week, today a cold, north easterly wind was blowing around the tower and not a swift was in the sky as we approached the Museum.

Screams from inside the nest boxes reassured us that this was because the swifts had far too much sense to be expending energy in a fruitless search for their insect prey in such cold, windy conditions and instead were hunkered down inside in the shelter of their boxes. This made our first count of the season much more fruitful and we were pleased to discover 9 boxes have already been settled and counted 16 birds sitting. This is very early for so many to be back but they followed last week’s warm southerly breezes and we may have to wait until the wind and weather changes for the next wave, meanwhile, we have placed a camera on a box we know to be occupied so that you can follow the progress one of our birds progress through the season live on our website (see below).

Monday 12 May

On approaching the museum this morning there were plenty of screams coming from the nest boxes but by the time we had climbed up the many stair and ladders to start the survey most birds were taking advantage of the early morning sun and light breeze
to feed and were on the wing.  Nevertheless, we found 16 boxes are now occupied and were delighted to find our first eggs had been laid. Seven in total with 2 boxes containing clutches of 3 and a single egg in a third box. 

Monday 19 May

The skies were quiet when I arrived at the tower this morning, it was rather cool conditions and as expected many of the birds were sitting in the nestboxes. A total of 39 boxes are now showing signs of activity. There are more than 20 eggs so if the
weather stays fair it could be a good breeding year. The Internet camera is back on-line now and shows a bird which is sitting on eggs in box W04B (left hand entrance of the centre box,  on the 3rd level from the bottom on the side of the tower
that faces South Parks Road).

Monday 26 May

It was a cool, breezy and cloudy day today. Very little swift activity around the museum tower, but at least it wasn't raining. Swifts were sitting quietly in 39 boxes and 15 eggs could be seen; 29 other boxes contained birds but they were sitting tight
so we cannot tell if they are on eggs or just roosting.

Monday 2 June

Warm, dry, calm weather has returned and the swifts have responded. There are 42 active nests containing 26 eggs plus 10 young, and 21 boxes had adults sitting tight. Perhaps it will be a good breeding season after all.

Monday 9 June

It's calm but cloudy, mild and dry. A few swifts are screaming around the tower. Today, the counts have increased: 44 young and at least 17 eggs are visible and a further 10 boxes have adults sitting tight. We expect to have about 70-plus young ringed
and fledged this year.

Monday 16th June

The arrival of the warm weather has seen the skies around the tower screaming with swifts each morning with many juveniles not yet of breeding age flying up to the occupied boxes, screaming in and banging the cowls with their wings. These unruly screaming parties, acting like teenagers playing ‘knock and run’ are prospecting for suitable sites where they may breed next year and so a good sign for the future. Inside the tower, although increasingly hot, the breeding season is going well with 41 nests occupied, 84 chicks and a further 5 eggs counted. The chicks are obviously being well fed and are growing rapidly.

Monday 23rd June

The last week’s hot weather has definitely been good for the swifts with the young growing fast on a plentiful supply of food. There are now 92 chicks and a further 6 eggs in the 39 occupied boxes. Four of our chicks were also developed enough this year to be ringed and will be carrying their shiny little I.D. bracelets with them back to Africa in the next few weeks.