Swifts are colonial nesting birds and as such frequently return to the same sites each breeding season during the summer months. A decline in their natural nesting sites has caused swifts to utilise nesting space in urban areas high up in the eaves of buildings. It is therefore important to provide sufficient artificial nesting space to support swift populations.
The Orlando Swift Box is a single cavity nest box designed with swifts in mind. It is also suitable for house sparrows and starlings. This box is made with wood concrete making it more durable than traditional wood boxes with more stable interior thermal conditions benefiting the nesting individuals.
The Orlando has a single entrance which allows access to a single internal cavity. One major benefit of this nest box is that it can either be attached to an external wall or be installed within an external wall. Fixings are included for attaching to the surface of an external wall. It should ideally be sited around 6 to 7 meters above the ground. Ensuring that the entrance hole is unobstructed as swifts need sufficient space to drop into the air from the nest entrance. The box can be easily accessed by removing the front panel allowing for easy cleaning and inspection, although this is not necessary. The box can be painted, if desired, using standard air-permeable external wall paint.