Silent Summer is the first work looking up to the wonders of avian life. Migration fills
me with awe.
A bird that migrates to these shores is Apus Apus (the Common Swift).
Migration and pressures placed upon these and other birds is an area of current and
future research.
SILENT SUMMER - A REQUIEM TO THE SWIFT
Have you noticed a quietness overhead during recent summers?
A silence especially at dusk?
I have been aware over the past years that there has been a dramatic decline in
Swifts flying over my garden during Spring and Summer. The species of Swift that
breeds in the UK is Apus Apus. These amazing sickle shaped winged birds (not to be
confused with House Martins and Swallows) have been part of our summer skies for
over 500,000 years.
Our Swifts arrive in late April or early May and depart early August. They do not breed
for the first three to four years. It is the non breeding birds that help make up the
numbers with the breeding pairs for what is known as ‘screaming parties.’ A sound
that is/was so much part of our summer.
If you're not familiar with the sound of swifts, then please listen below:
