Bird lover builds 27,500 swift nest boxes!
Check out this awesome achievement…
John Stimpson from Cambridgeshire has been building swift nest boxes since he retired 13 years ago! Nat Geo Kids caught up with him to learn all about these barmy birds, and why they mean so much to him…
It’s John!
What are swifts?
Swifts are speedy little birds that travel to the UK every summer, all the way from Africa!
“They’re constantly in the air,” John tells us excitedly. “They don’t land, except to nest – and during the first three years of their lives, before they’re old enough to breed, they never stop flying. They can even sleep on the wing!“
In days gone by, swifts used to breed in the nooks and crannies of British rooftops, settling in under the eaves. But sadly, modern houses aren’t built with swifts in mind…
“I’ll be 80 soon”, John says, “and I remember that when I was younger the streets were absolutely alive in early summer with swifts, swallows, and house martins. Sadly, these amazing birds are rapidly declining now, because there are so few places for them to nest.”
How John helps!
When John retired 13 years ago, he went to a talk by a swift conservation charity. After hearing that the birds were struggling to nest, John decided he’d do something to make a difference. So, he started hand-making swift nest boxes in his garage!
“I’ve made about 27,500 boxes now”, John tells us proudly. “They go all over the British Isles, and to other European countries as well! When I first started, I could make three in a day – but now I make about 100 a week. I’ve got a bit quicker, over time!”
From buying the timber, to making the box and then selling it, it all happens out of John’s garage – what an achievement!
“I get a tremendous amount of pleasure from making them”, John explains. “I love seeing where they’re all going, too! Swifts return to their original nest site year after year, so hopefully, each family will return to the same box to raise their chicks safely in the future.”
UPDATE!
John celebrated his 80th birthday in January 2022 – by building his 30,000th box! Amazingly, he estimates that the boxes will have housed more than 60,000 swifts.
What are swift nest boxes like?
Swifts have pretty specific nesting requirements, thanks to their love of life on the wing.
“A swift nest box is a very simple affair, it’s just feathers and down, which they take straight out of the air!” John says. “They’re very clean birds, and keep their nests tidy – so people don’t need to worry about their droppings falling on floors or cars.”
John tells us that as a result of this, their nest boxes look a bit different from those you’d have for typical garden birds like starlings or blackbirds…
“The swift boxes are long rectangles with very narrow entrances so that the birds can just fly straight in. Swifts swoop into the boxes at great speed, so they have to be super accurate! It’s amazing to watch.”
How to spot swifts near you!
These awesome birds tend to arrive at the beginning of May every year, but you need to keep your ears open, as well as your eyes, if you want to spot one…
“To spot a swift, you need to do a lot of walking around with your head in the air, looking up at the sky!” John laughs. “It can be in the countryside or in the towns – sometimes you’re most likely to see them where there are a few buildings, as they’ll gather there in small flocks. And they’re screaming, so listen out! Swifts are known as the ‘devil bird’ because of their shrill calls, it’s a fantastic thing to hear. As I say, at 80 years old, I’m still really enjoying it!”
SWIFT TIP!
Why not buy a swift nest box online, or build your own? Then next year, these awesome birds might come to visit you, too!
Illustration ⓒ Malik Jagucki.
What do you think of John’s amazing swift nest boxes? Let us know in the comments!
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COMMENTS1
leo
great job so cool thats a big number
Willow
I would love to be a swift!Feel the breeze!
Lilix
Nice!
George
I think its an AMAZING idea keep up the good work
Xavier
Cool!!!
AF1810
Wow!
Advika
Wow!
Anna
Wow
CEARA
OMG this is so interesting
jpig
interesting and brilliant thing to read.
Dylanoooo
That's good of him
Vick
Nice
188024
hi cool
Omg this is so interesting, one of the most enthusiastic and heart warming articles I’ve ever read
me543
i really enjoyed reading it and i like d learing how he helped the birds
Mukund
You must have used the whole day to make 100 boxes in a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is amazing
ANIMAL123
WOW! This is amazing work, keep it up!
rene974che
COOOOOL
prince Charles
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FireWolfIzzy
Wow! Well done on the boxes, keep it up and try some other local bird boxes too!
louban
sheeesh good round of applause
Tj
Hi love nat geo
Tj. H
my kids love this website.
hugo
great!!!!!!!!!
Ted
Yeah let’s make bird houses
Zara
this was really cool and awseome i loved it! Nat geo is the best!
Ashley
Awesome John I never have heard of an amazing person like you! lets take action national geographic kids by building more swift nest boxes
Lakeisha
Cool
Dan
Nice
Ashley
Go John lets build swift nest boxes
This is so cool I love Nat geo
locksniff
OwainYinBeale
so cool
A girl who’s named Emma
Let’s take action
Viv
I love Nat geo
Alex
So cool
shawn
very kind and good
dirigible ferret
dude I love Swift's
GG
Awesome job John. What your doing is awesome for the environment.
lillian13095
wow
UYTIUTIUTI
a boy
I wish i could create one
A person
I want a box!
Noah
That man is pretty cool for saving the bird.
Zuzu
Nice
Flying sibirian tiger
sooo cool
Audrey
Cool l love birds and Dinosaurs
Pangolin32
Swifts are one of my favourite birds
cup of odd looking salt
That man is a hero!
RadenArkan
William 7
I love swifts they are amazing animals traveling from Africa.
Ruby
I really like all this information National Geographic kids. It inspires me to look after nature
Varsha
Mrbeast fan
I love birds
So sweet
ANON
Cool
A.m.m
That a really good idea and it might even bring them back from declining.
Nicola
Fab How do we order one?
Mary Hodgson
Just seen on the lunch time news, it’s amazing how do you purchase a swift box? Many thanks Mary x
erik
Sheila F.
I think this man has done such a wonderful thing in making these bird boxes. If I thought that swift’s, swallows or housemartins would come into our garden, I would definitely buy one of these boxes.
Sophia
This is cool! I want to have a swift nest box! This also needs more likes! It only has TWO! I did the second like.
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