By Dianne Craven
If you are fortunate enough, from early May you can get to see the dark scythe-winged silhouettes of Swifts wheeling about in the sky, often accompanied by their screaming calls.
It is said that Swifts bring the summer with them. Swifts are remarkable birds. They spend almost all of their lives in the air. They eat, drink, and mate on the wing. In late July Swifts return to Africa, making a round trip of approximately 14,000 miles.
But, Swifts (including the West Leeds population) need our help. Swifts are faithful to their nest sites in old buildings.
These sites are always out of sight. Here is the problem. Old buildings are knocked down, repaired or insulated. New buildings have no nooks or crannies, so when Swifts arrive from Africa, they find their nesting places have gone.
As the government has chosen not to make it mandatory for new builds to include Swift bricks, awareness needs to be raised about providing new homes for them.
Leeds Swifts is one such group. They are actively promoting Swift awareness. The group helps people provide homes, such as retrofitted Swift bricks, soffit boxes, and Swift boxes. People can also get advice and information to help keep existing nest spaces accessible.
The group will be continuing to campaign for Swift bricks.
Swifts are also being affected by intensive farming, Overuse of insecticides, and climate change. Dust storms in Africa and chaotic weather conditions during the breeding season all have a negative impact on the birds. Therefore, the group carries out Swift surveys and Swift rescue. These rescues are particularly important. If you find a Swift on the ground, never throw it into the air.
Linda Jenkinson, co-founder of Leeds Swifts, has recently opened the Swift Sanctuary for another summer.
She said: “We rely so much on members of the public to act rapidly when they find a grounded swift and contact us immediately.
“There are lots of myths about swifts on the internet and even trusted organisations publish confusing advice about grounded birds.
“This results in very poorly adults and underdeveloped chicks being either abandoned to suffer in extreme elements or to be predated upon by cats and magpies. Some birds are launched into the air only to fall once again and sustain more impact injuries.”
Call Leeds Swifts on 07778 76871.
Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley recently helped to raise Swift awareness when Leeds Swifts held a roadshow in the 1912 Mill. With the help of Alex van Zeller, from Leeds Swifts, the mill now has Swift boxes in place on the colonnade.
Sunny Bank Mills have asked that if you see Swift at the mill, please let them or Leeds Swifts know.
World Swift Day is on the 7 June 2025. This is a global event to raise awareness about Swifts and their conservation.
- For further information please contact: Leedsswifts.com or e-mail leeds.swifts@gmail.com. They are @LeedsSwifts on social media.
Sponsored content
some swifts are seen at an old church in low lane horsforth Leeds 18 saint James church could date back to the 16th centuary. it has one bell in a small tower were birds might nest.