NEWS RELEASE
Monday 7 April 2014
A Swift swoop to the
region from around the globe
Bird lovers, experts and action groups from around
the globe are gathering in Cambridge to debate how to reverse the decline in
Swift populations.
Over 150 people from 24 countries – including
America, Canada, Brazil, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan – will meet this week for
the Cambridge International Swift Conference to hear from a host of experts.
Speakers and researchers will talk about studies and
work to protect swifts, including local initiatives such as a housing project
in Fulbourn which helped protect East Anglia’s largest Swift colony, and the
Cambridge Swift Tower.
Cambridge and the surrounding areas are a hotspot
for Swift conservation activity and national organisations – particularly the
RSPB – are registering the locations of all known breeding Swifts to enable
planning authorities to take on board some of the measures used to mitigate
where development may lose nest sites at rspb.org.uk/helpswifts.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s highly
successful project in Fulbourn used a CD, playing calls, to help attract Swifts
to new nesting sites created after a major redevelopment.
A local Cambridge group, Action for Swifts, have
also implemented many successful projects in buildings such as churches and
schools.
The three day conference at Parkside Community
College, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday (8-10 April), will also cover
topics from tracking Swifts to Africa, nest-boxing projects, Swifts in the
arts, Swift welfare and rehabilitation, as well as papers on Neotropical, North
American and other European species of Swifts. It includes a hands-on workshop,
run by the RSPB, for architects and
planners.
The after dinner speaker at the conference is Mike
McCarthy, former environmental journalist of the year from the Independent
newspaper who wrote the highly regarded book 'Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo'.
Edward Mayer, director of Swift Conservation, said:
"We're bringing together Swift experts and enthusiasts from across the
World to make a great step forward for the conservation of these spectacular
yet enigmatic birds. Screaming Swifts are the sound of Summer from Dublin to
Beijing and they bring the joy and delight of Nature into the heart of our
Urban environment. We must not lose them."
Dick Newell of Action for Swifts, said: "There
are some 25 million homes in the UK. That works out at one pair of Swifts for
every 287 homes. Surely, with a combination of efforts by the house-building
industry and individuals in their own homes we can do a lot better. Few things
in summer are more enthralling than a vibrant colony of Swifts in your
neighbourhood."
Rob Mungovan, South Cambridgeshire District
Council’s ecology officer, said: “It is great to be able to share the work we
have been doing in our villages to protect and enhance the Swift population
with a global audience. As a hotspot for swift conservation, we have a lot of
knowledge on how we have been able to mitigate the impact of nesting sites
being lost and hope the conference will provide even more insights into what
else we can do for the good of the birds and future generations”.
ENDS
For further information and contacts:
Conference website:
cambridgeswifts2014.blogspot.com
Action for Swifts website:
actionforawifts.blogspot.com
Swift Conservation website: swift-conservation.org
RSPB webpage: rspb.org.uk/helpswifts
Edward Mayer, Swift Conservation on 020 7794 2098
Dick Newell, Action for Swifts, on 07968 428781
Rob Mungovan, South Cambridgeshire District Council,
on 07876
257058
Guy Belcher, Cambridge City Council, on 07795 542525
John Day, RSPB, on 01767 680551
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