There is not too much time left this summer, but you should still be able to see a few lingering Swifts flying high in the sky, before they make their migratory journey back to tropical Africa. Of all birds they are the most stunning fliers, and can make mere earthbound humans very jealous indeed…
They are like a muscle powered flying torpedo…
They climb and bank with practiced ease…
Swifts feed on flying insects…
They are so committed to continuous flight that they even mate on the wing…
Swifts spend the first two years of their lives continuously aloft, before building a rather rudimentary nest in a crevice in a cliff. In a modern city, they might nest on high-rise buildings, perhaps even in a man-made nest box.
The bird’s Latin name “apus apus” means “without feet”, and indeed, if a swift should ever fall to the ground, it will have the greatest difficulty in getting back into the sky, and may require assistance from a kindly passing human.
With their scythe shaped wings, swifts are a fairly large bird, and can be seen easily from quite a distance, even with the naked eye…
They often fly with House Martins, whose buzzing call is distinctive…
Here are a few swifts in slow motion
In Italy, you can even have dinner and still bird watch!
Swifts often fly round in family circles, screaming to each other, as here in Denmark…
Don’t you wish you could fly like that?
John Knifton 