Estimated reading time:4 minutes, 2 seconds
Mike Priaulx from Islington Swifts. His swift PR has led to dozens of swift boxes being installed around the borough. Will they be used in 2020? (c) Islington Faces
Q: What work do you do?
I volunteer for Islington Swifts: protecting swifts and other urban birds in Islington by raising awareness, helping to install nestboxes, and providing advice.
Find out more about swifts at www.swift-conservation.org
Q: Tell us more about swifts?
A swift is a bird that migrates here from Africa in May each year. It looks a little like a swallow or house martin, but neither of those birds breed in Islington. No-one knows exactly how many are in Islington, but nationwide there has been a 50% drop in 20 years mostly due to loss of nest sites as Victorian buildings are refurbished. We have one of the largest colonies in London at Aubert Court in Highbury with about 30 pairs there, and Islington Council have said they will protect this colony.
Creating a new swift eaves soffit box (c) islington faces
Q: How can people help swifts?
If you are lucky enough to have nesting swifts in your building, then make sure you protect their nesting sites during any building work (and don’t prevent the birds’ access to the site during the summer). If your home is suitable (two storeys or more) then maybe put a nestbox or two up, and if you are having building work done you can create integrated spaces for swifts in the roof! (You can get advice about this from us or Swift Conservation.) And everyone can record their sightings on the RSPB swift survey website, which is vital information to be able to protect these birds.
Gates to Woodberry Wetlands – a good place to spot birds (c) Islington Faces
- Gillespie Park Ecology Centre – close to Arsenal tube where many great spring and autumn fairs are held, and home to a couple of our swifts boxes.
- Tufnell Park Playing Fields – the first of the Council offices to install our swifts boxes.
- St Mary’s School N1 – the first school we helped to install swifts boxes.
- Mildmay – as well as the home of the fantastic King Henry’s Walk Garden and Garden Classroom, 2 Newington Green, it is also the location of the first occupied swifts boxes in Islington.
- Woodberry Wetlands – actually in Hackney but close to the border, it’s the little sister of Walthamstow Wetlands up the road but you can see a similar variety of birds in a much smaller space (and they have a pleasant café, the Coal House!).
- You can’t join Islington Swifts but you can follow us on Twitter @islingt_swifts or contact us through for advice or to join our emailing list on our website, see https://islingtonswifts.wordp
ress.com - Swift Awareness Week takes place from 27 June to 5 July.
- Swift Conservation will have a stand at the London Wildlife Festival from 25-26 July 2020 at Walthamstow Wetlands. Come and ask questions!
Over to you
If you’d like to nominate someone to be interviewed who grew up, lives or works in Islington, or suggest yourself, please let me know, via nicolabaird dot green at gmail dot com. If you enjoyed this post you might like to look at the A-Z  index, or search by interviewee’s roles or Meet Islingtonians to find friends, neighbours and inspiration. Thanks for stopping by. Nicola
Feedback
Nadine: Lovely thank you. As a keen birder I literally cry every time the swifts come back each spring.
