Mardler June 2018 JS

Information
Where are the Swifts?
As I write this mid-May I am wondering
just where are the Swifts which are
normally here by now? According to the
RSPB normal Martin migration was seen
in April but a spate of cool weather and
northerly winds have slowed them down
which will equally apply to the swifts.
These are without doubt one of my
favourite birds and their arrival really
does say in the loudest voice summer is here!
Swifts breed throughout Europe as far north as Lapland and the
Arctic Circle, reaching east across Asia to China. They normally
arrive in the UK in the last week of April or early May and stay only
long enough to breed. Autumn migration begins in late July or early
August. The onset of the migration is believed to be triggered by the
lack of nutritious insects high in the air. Few swifts are left in
September. Our UK swifts migrate through France and Spain to
spend their winter in Africa, south of the Sahara, where they follow
the rains to take advantage of rapid changes in insect populations.
While many immature birds return to the breeding grounds in the
spring - some will remain in Africa.
Swifts are generally found nesting in holes and cavities in the roofs
of older buildings in villages like Thorpe Abbotts and Brockdish.
Their numbers have declined by over 25% in the past decade due
lack of nesting sites as older buildings are either renovated or
knocked down. We are fortunate that life in both villages is
characterised by these lovely birds flying around through the houses
at speed in small groups. They may be small in stature but large in
voice.
There is plenty of information available on the net and a simple
Google search of “swift nesting sites” is a great place to start. Whilst
doing something this year may seem a little late, the juveniles
(which make up the majority of the noisy groups) will investigate
these sites for use next year.
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