As a child, I remember on summer evenings watching and being captivated by swifts. They seemed to defy gravity with lightning aerial displays, followed by screams of rejoice to reinforce the fact. Ever since, I have been obsessed with the common swift, eagerly awaiting their return to herald the summer. Growing up, I have witnessed a year-on-year decline in the number of birds that return. Furthermore, the resident swifts I remember in my home village are no longer there and the summer sky there is now silent.

The initial step taken was community engagement. I knew I had to make local people aware of swifts and their plight. Without community support, all endeavours would be futile. GOS and I decided a good way to get people involved would be to host guided walks. The walks were received very positively, and consequently, the community’s interest in ways to help swifts soon began to gain momentum. It was at this point I realised I would need help if plans were to move forward successfully. I approached a handful of enthusiastic people willing to help. Thus, Swifts of Usk was born, and we are now a team of six.

The project has been a continuous learning process. As a result, we are constantly adapting. Thankfully, each team member possesses skills that complement the vision and goals we hope to achieve. We ran a series of swift nest box workshops in Usk in 2022 and 2023. We’re pleased to say there are now about 40 swift nest boxes in Usk and the local area. 

The very unsettled weather of summer 2023 made it a difficult summer for our swifts, severely affecting breeding and nest prospecting behaviour. We did receive reports of swifts taking interest in some of the boxes and we hope those boxes are entered by pioneering birds this year. 

We have been active in providing educational presentations given to a number of local groups and organisations and that work will continue. We aim to provide information and support for anyone wishing to purchase swift boxes and advice on providing a suitable home for swifts. We organised two guided walks in 2024, one in June and the other is on July 19.  

In addition, any swift spotting carried out by members of the team on weekday evenings will be posted in advance on our Facebook page to allow anyone wishing to see our swifts to join us. Our ambitious project this year will be providing a potential home for a colony of swifts in the tower of a local church.