Open Lecture

Keeping a place for Swifts

© Margers Martinsons www.londons-swifts.org.uk

Swifts are with us for just three months each summer, bringing drama and excitement to the islands' skies. These amazing birds have shared our buildings with us ever since the Romans came to Britain. They still breed in our eaves and gables, but not for much longer, as modern and renovated buildings exclude them. Unless we do something about it Swifts will vanish from the Bailiwick.

Edward Mayer runs London's Swifts which has an excellent website with information for householders, builders and architects on how to adapt modern building methods so they are suitable for nesting Swifts.

In Guernsey, Vic Froome has been instrumental in encouraging swifts on some public buildings - there has been great success at Deslisles Church for instance (click here for more details) but more needs to be done on private homes as well as other new and existing buildings. This can include simple modification such as cutting small holes in soffits to encourage birds into the roof space to installing next boxes in the eaves.

Edward Mayer's lecture is intended for all those interested in Swifts - householders, businesses, builders, policy makers and architects. Please come along to listen to the talk and also learn about what is being done in Guernsey.

Open Lecture Details

11th September 2008: Living with Swifts by Edward Mayer. La Société Guernesiaise Lecture Theatre, Candie Gardens starting at 8pm.

12th September 2008: Edward will be giving a similar talk in Alderney - please contact the Alderney Wildlife Trust for further details.