# @rspb on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/COm5x5FokmN
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34270860-rspb-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/79493db072.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-05-08T10:01:01.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** RSPB (@rspb) — https://gondola.cc/rspb

## Caption

From Africa to the UK and back again, every year swifts make one of nature’s most incredible journeys – and it’s almost time to see them here again! Read on below to follow the journey of a brave swift as they travel the thousands of miles it takes to reach the UK and Republic of Ireland for summer ☀️

A few weeks ago, our swift darted through the sky over Gola Rainforest on the Sierra Leone/Liberia border. Thousands of plants and animals are found here, but their home is disappearing. It may sound too good to be true, but treating yourself to a bar of Gola Rainforest chocolate can help protect the local wildlife and support the livelihoods of the local community, too - link in bio!

Our swift then left behind the Guinean forests and headed north into Europe. Over the years this landscape has changed beyond recognition – woodlands and wetlands are now roads and concrete, making her migration tougher than ever.

Without safe places to rest and refuel, many migrant birds won’t make it to the UK to breed, but our swift is lucky and, in mid May, makes its way over the south coast – but now she’s on the hunt for a nest site! Renovated roofs and sealed soffits – we think a lack of nest sites could be partly to blame for the decline of swifts, but it’s easy to help them.

A few days later, our swift decides to call the urban surroundings of Edinburgh home - thankfully, some nice locals have installed a swift brick in their new extension! Her chicks will soon be ready to migrate to Africa and, once airborne, won’t touch land again for two to three years!

This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, it’s time for you to help! If you see swifts entering holes in buildings, or groups whizzing around at roof level giving screaming calls, then report it on #SwiftMapper!

Follow the link in our bio to discover more ways you can make a difference for swifts!

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,798
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- **Comments:** 118

## Tags

swiftmapper, worldmigratorybirdday

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