Swift response: Londoners’ help needed to spot iconic birds

28/06/2010 09:33:51 Lack of nest sites one of causes for dramatic population decline

June 2010: Mayor of London Boris Johnson is supporting the RSPB and London's swifts by appealing for Londoners' help in counting one of the UK's most iconic birds. The swift population halved between 1994 and 2007 and one of the problems behind the dramatic decline is a lack of nest sites. The RSPB is joining up with the Mayor and London Swifts to ask Londoners to look out for swifts in their local area and fill in a survey. The information is vital as the RSPB currently has no information on how many of the birds are left in the capital.

Swifts can be seen circling overhead of an evening, usually in pairs or small groups, with their distinctive cry, a high-pitched and easily heard ‘screee' noise. These small, fast-moving birds arrived in Britain in May and should remain with us until August or early September.

‘Let's ensure these aerial acrobats remain a common sight'

Since Roman times, swifts have nested here in our homes and buildings. Originally cave and cliff nesters, they switched their nesting habits to high man-made structures; under tiles, in the eaves, in lofts, spires and towers.
Mr Johnson said: ‘We can all play a part in boosting the chances of survival of these fabulous city birds simply by helping to garner information about them. So, when you are at home of an evening, look out for them sweeping past your window and take part in this survey. Let's make sure these fantastic aerial acrobats remain a common sight over the
capital.'

RSPB Regional Director Chris Corrigan said: ‘We desperately need more information about where they are breeding. Then we'll be able to protect existing nest sites and identify key London areas where we can provide extra help for swifts.'

20 nestboxes
To kick-start this initiative, 20 swift nestboxes will be installed on Metropolitan Police Service buildings in the coming months and ways of providing further support are being considered. Swifts live most of their lives on the wing, landing only to breed. They feed, mate and even sleep on the wing. Each year they arrive in the UK to breed, but a drive to insulate our homes and drive down wasted energy is depriving them of traditional nest sites. 

Look out for low-level ‘screaming' groups of swifts (that means they're breeding nearby) or take note of where you've seen swifts nesting; perhaps entering a roof or hole in a building.

The best time to look is around dusk on warm, still evenings. Screaming swifts flying low around houses or other buildings are probably nesting in them somewhere close by.