I could have posted this under my 'Simple Pleasures' thread, but I suppose it is more a sad and poignant feeling that the departure of the swifts brings. I noted it myself earlier this week on Wednesday morning on my way to work when I noted several quite large parties swooping around the Brinkburn estate in Hazel Grove. This is the only place I know locally which still harbours a modest number of breeding pairs. As the flocks of 8-10 birds flew fast and low between the houses, it was hard not to imagine that they were saying to the young of the year 'If we don't make it, this is where you need to come back to next year'. Problem is, as you say, they might well return, but will that loose tile still be there, or that gap in the facia board?
Whatever, later that day, next day (and since) there has been no sign of them. Time to say ta-ra to the summer. Hopefully not time to say ta-ra forever to the swift just yet.
The last of the Swifts have left the area of Houghton Lane, Swinton. Every year fewer and fewer birds return. We used to have 3 pairs nesting in the eaves of our house, now it's down to 2 and the groups of birds that used number 10 to 15 flying around screeching has now been reduced to about 5 or 6. The Rspb are carrying out a survey of the Swift population in this country and i'd urge anyone with Swifts nesting near them to complete the survey forms that can be downloaded off the Rspb web site. Something has to be done or we could lose these iconic summer birds for good.
