Listen Out For The Screaming Neighbours

Swift (photo: Dave Mansell)

Since the earliest human occupation of Britain, the Swift has been living alongside man: first in caves, then on castles and churches, and finally in our homes. Recently, however, there have been worries that the fortunes of one of our oldest neighbours may be declining. Swifts like to nest in old buildings, but renovation and development may be evicting the swift from areas in which it formerly thrived.

To understand more about our Swift population, the RSPB has launched a UK-wide online survey asking people to provide details of the birds either in their homes or in their neighbourhoods.

Swift (photo: Peter Simpson)

The RSPB's Darren Moorcroft said: "There is some evidence that the Swift has declined across the UK, but we really need people's help to understand more about where this bird still occurs."

Swifts are often confused with Swallows and House Martins, but the all-black birds are easily identified, especially when groups of Swifts fly at speed in noisy formations around nesting sites. These flocks are known as 'screaming parties'.

The online questionnaire will ask people to state whether Swifts are nesting on properties or whether people have heard Swift 'screaming parties' around their properties.

Find out how to take part in the survey.

Swift (photo: Richard Bedford)