How a Manchester community welcomed the return of the swifts

My name is Suzanne and I live in Swinton, Salford and have been involved in the Greater Manchester Swift Street initiative since August 2024.

In lockdown I started to take time to explore my local area much more. I enjoyed time in our little garden more and spotted some birds as they zoomed and screamed over the house. I wasn’t quite sure what they were and asked my friend Kathleen who lived on a surrounding road what they might be. She enlightened me. They were swifts! Then the summer was over and the swifts left Swinton, heading back to Africa. Each year since I have eagerly anticipated the return of the swifts. My understanding grew and I learnt of their declining numbers, along with developing a stiff neck constantly looking up to the sky watching their breathtaking manoeuvres.

Over time I learnt more about these incredible urban birds and how their nesting spots were being destroyed when homes and buildings were renovated. I was saddened to discover that there were now fewer than 60,000 pairs left in the UK. These fascinating birds fly 3,400 miles twice a year and at speeds of up to 69 miles per hour – they eat, sleep and even mate on the wing, only landing to nest. They are sooty brown, with a white throat, and have curved wings and a forked tail. The most identifiable feature I think is their ‘scream’ as they hurtle along. I especially love to wake to the noise in the morning or see them zooming low around the houses at dusk.

I am lucky to live in a friendly community on our lane. I messaged our community group and asked if anyone knew about our swifts and where they were nesting. Initially we were unsuccessful, but last spring we struck gold and we finally worked it out.

Read more:

• Top 5 books about birds, chosen by Jasmine Donahaye
• Jim Moir, Nancy Sorrell, Chris Packham and the fine art of birdwatching
• ‘Nature is slowly healing’: How rewilding is bringing Britain’s extinct species back from the dead

In August 2024, a resident of another local road got in touch to say the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) had been to visit their colony, and she asked if we’d be interested in getting involved with developing our own Swift Street. With RSPB community engagement officer Roshni Parmar-Hill’s inspiring advice and guidance we used our community WhatsApp group to share the news of the Swift Street development. The local response was phenomenal, with so many families keen to help our swift population, and more than 80 boxes requested. We are so privileged that these captivating urban birds choose our lane as their home – having the means to install boxes is a wonderful opportunity.

Early this year we were blessed with some dry January days, during which Roshni and I visited each home that had requested a swift box and helped the families select a suitable aspect for their boxes to be positioned within. Roshni gathered support from a local independent skills provider (Trafford’s The SkillCentre), whose young learners made our boxes as part of their vocational courses.

Elsewhere, a local lady called Haldis made nest cups, which are small nesting structures inside swift boxes which prevent the birds’ eggs from rolling about. Roshni and swift ambassadors (volunteers who work alongside communities to raise awareness of swifts and encourage positive actions to protect them) visited the girl guiding group I look after to lead some swift-themed activities which captivated the girls’ interest. They have loved learning swift facts and joining in with the practical activities of painting and weather-proofing the boxes too.

Installation day arrived on Saturday 8 March, with 25 boxes going up on that first day. We have now installed more than 80 erected by a local roofer, Ryan, and are ready for the first wave of our birds returning! It’s been an absolute honour to be involved in this project and I feel so grateful that our community can do something practical to support our local swifts and welcome these special little birds home.

Promises are easy to break. Sign Big Issue’s petition for a Poverty Zero law and help us make tackling poverty a legal requirement, not just a policy priority.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.