Swift (Common Swift)
Apus apus
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Distribution Britain 2,215 (+0.7%) Ireland 743 (-14.4%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 80,000 Ireland 20,000 European status: 4,300,000 (2% in Britain and Ireland = 8=) British population trend: recent steep decline (-13% BBS) How likely are you to record it? 1797 squares (40.0%) Ranked 31 [41=] |
Swifts are long distance migrants and are only in our area for about three months (May to July) to breed mostly in the roofs of buildings. Only a handful nest in natural sites like cliff crevices, woodpecker holes and even House Martin nests! They were widespread and common 100 years ago breeding everywhere except Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides and North-west Scotland. Declines had been, and were later, reported from the polluted city centre areas of London, the Midlands and the North. However, as 'Clean Air Acts' were introduced they were able to return. In Ireland they expanded into parts of the far west about 60 years ago but they may have declined since. The Second Atlas showed many (14.4%) of the occupied squares in Ireland had none recorded and Britain showed no change. On the BBS they declined by 13% (significant) in five years. Many are excluded from their breeding holes by demolition and restoration work. One survey of a small part of Northamptonshire showed a staggering decline of almost 80% between 1978 and 1998! This was very closely correlated with re-roofing work. Concern for Swifts (see page 76) has been formed to try to alert owners to their guests and tell house owners, councils and house builders how to accommodate their Swifts. The birds need help or they will largely be lost!
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
Swift
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead