Swift Population Declining
The RSPB (join here) suggests that there is a decline in the swift population as a result of building repairs and demolitions. As swifts almost always nest in holes, nooks and crannies high up in buildings, declining nesting places gives rise to a decline in the swift population. As more properties are renovated the swifts are finding it increasingly difficult to find somewhere to nest.
Some interesting facts about swifts:
- Swifts pair for life
- They return from Africa to the UK each spring to the same nest sites
- They spend alomost their entire life on the wing
- They eat, mate and even sleep in flight.
2 comments
Swifts arrived here,S Wales valley, about usual time but only a few.
Then in the cool spell in June they vanished, have only seen a few martins around since.
Interestingly I did spot some swallows early in the year skimming water
from a local pond (lake), not seen them around here before.
Jackdaw numbers have declined in these parts as the rural ones used
chimneys to nest in and many have been blocked off of removed entirely.
Last year I only spotted one or two young jackdaws, probably due to poor
weather conditions whereas this year they are back to about 5% of population.
Hi Malcolm – thanks for your comment!
Leave a Comment