Saturday (2nd July) marked the beginning of Swift Awareness Week 2022, a time to celebrate these wonderful birds that choose to migrate to the UK every year to breed.
For many (myself included) the sound of Swifts screeching high in the skies is the quintessential sound of summer.
A short, but delightful, stay
Arriving around May-time and staying until late-July (sometimes early August if you’re lucky) these magnificent birds spend most of their lives on the wing. After breeding in the UK, Swifts head back home to West Africa with any new additions to the family.
According to the British Trust for Ornithology, it takes a Swift just five days to travel 5,000 km from the UK back to south of the Sahara. Not surprising when you hear they can fly up to 70mph!
Record your sightings
Sadly, Swifts are in decline and are now on the UK Red list of conservation concern. RSPB need your help to share nesting site and screeching parties.
Head over to their Swift Mapper to record your sightings .
Wight Swifts
Here on the Isle of Wight we have an excellent group on Facebook called Wight Swifts. Run by Isle of Wight naturalist and BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) Regional Rep, Jim Baldwin.
Residents on the Island post when and where they have seen swifts, as well as other related information of interest
40 seconds of swifts
If you haven’t had the chance to see Swifts this year yet, this video from 2019 might bring a bit of sunshine to your day – turn the sound up and listen until the end for the wonderful screeching from the skies.
