I had a trip to Oxford for Swifts but the trip was hardly “swift”!
Whilst one Swift got married in New York (yawn), I had an amazing visit to the Museum of Natural History University of Oxford.
The colony of Swifts which nest in the ventilator shafts of the Museum tower has been the subject of a research study since 1947. It is one of the longest continuous studies of a single bird species in the world and has contributed much to our knowledge of Swifts.
Swifts were the subject of a research project undertaken by David Lack, the head of the Edward Grey Institute at the Department of Zoology and in 1956 his book, “Swifts in a Tower”, was published. It has since been re-published several times and is still available. I am currently reading it.
After a short walk from Oxford train station, I began to hear Swifts well before arriving at the Museum. Whilst at the Museum, I was able to enjoy the sight and sound of at least 100 Swifts and their continual “screaming roof-top circuit races” (to quote Robert Macfarlane) …. plus 2 fly-over Red Kites.
I eventually left the Museum with over 400 photos, mostly of blurred Swifts or empty sky (Swifts are very challenging to photograph!), but I did have a few “keepers”.
Before leaving Oxford, I visited the Swift Tower in the adjacent University Park. The Swift Tower was installed in 2019 and contains 25 Swift nestboxes. However, I saw no evidence of occupation.
I also visited the “Wonder of Birds” exhibition at the Bodleian Library.
Inspired by “The Book of Birds” by the brilliant artist Jackie Morris and the brilliant writer Robert Macfarlane, the exhibition celebrates the splendour of the birds around us at the same time as recognising the steep decline in bird populations across our skies in recent decades.
Oxford Magazine - Bodleian Libraries exhibition explores humanity’s enduring relationship with birds
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