Henfield Birdwatch – Swifts survey
Swifts are in Henfield for just three months each summer, and then they migrate to Central and Southern Africa to spend our winter there. While they are with us they fill our summer skies with their amazing aerobatic displays. Up to a dozen will hurtle, screaming, just above the rooftops. On a July evening, flights of swifts wheeling high over the village of Henfield can be seen, although in recent years is sadly becoming a declining feature.
A
spectacular form of aerial display is when individual swifts fly up to the
nest entrance holes of other swifts and tap their wings against them. This
type of display is restricted to fine weather and is particularly noticeable
on the first day after a spell of bad weather.
Like flying anchors these symbols of high summer have greater mastery of the air than any other bird. Swifts drink by catching raindrops; they collect food, breed and sleep all on the wing.
The swift’s stay here is short, extending from early May to early August – the period coinciding with high insect population and long hours of daylight. Once their young can fly swifts have no reason to stay here. Leaving their nests, fledging swifts instantly take up an independent airborne life and are apparently ignored by their parents. .
Since early times swifts have nested here in man made buildings, nesting under tiles, in the eaves, in lofts, spires and towers. Swifts use the same nest year after year merely adding fresh material. This is caught in the air. Dry grass, straw, feathers and scraps of paper have all been found in nests.
Swifts nest almost only in pre – 1944 buildings. While 10% of homes built before 1919 can house swifts, only 1.4% of post war houses can host swifts. This is because modern buildings deny swift’s access to breed, and so do refurbished or re-roofed older buildings, leaving no space left for harmless, beautiful and life-enhancing swifts to nest.
Making a place for swifts costs little. Swifts will use DIY or commercially available nest boxes which can be installed into old or new buildings. This does not affect the structure and will help to preserve the birds from extinction, and contributes much to our environment and quality of life.
Henfield Birdwatch would appreciate a bit of your time in completing the survey form attached. Could you be our eyes and ears?
If you would like to become a member of Henfield Birdwatch (only £7.50 per year for two people or £5.00 for a single membership or would like to find out more about this local organisation, please contact Mrs Liz Hodgson, tel no: 01273 492595.
Please download the survey form and return the slips to either Village Care or the Library.