Today is World Swift Day

7th June is World Swift Day.

World Swift Day is a global celebration of the 96 species of Swift found worldwide, many of which are endangered.

In the UK, the Common Swift, usually referred to as just the Swift, is a summer visitor from late April to late August.

The UK's Swifts are in trouble. It is estimated that their population has deceased by 57% between 1995 and 2017, primarily due to the application of pesticides and habitat destruction which has affected their insect food supply. The modernisation of many buildings has also resulted in the loss of roof nesting sites. More information can be found at Swift Conservation.

The RSPB have launched their Swift mapper which can be found here. This enables anyone to easily record their Swift sightings and contribute to the national database.

In addition to the Swift seen in the UK each summer, I have also seen 2 other European species on many occasions, principally in southern Europe: Alpine Swift and Pallid Swift. I have, however, recorded both these species in the UK, the former at RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk in May 2003 and at Chafford Hundred in Essex in April 2010 and the latter at Kessingland in Suffolk in April 2010.

I have yet to see a Little Swift or White-rumped Swift, both of which are expanding their range in to southern Spain and breed very locally there.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature