BIRD lovers are taking swift action to help ensure the future of one of Britain’s most popular summer visitors.

Swifts migrate from South Africa every year but nationally there has been a drastic reduction in numbers with 50 per cent less coming to Britain. Bird lover Bruce Stainsby of Bedale is backing a national appeal by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to find out more about where swift’s are still found. One problem is they spend most of their lives on the wing only landing when they return to their nests usually through a small hole in a roof space or crevice in an old wall.

Now many nest holes in old building are blocked up through improvements and new thermally efficient buildings don't have gaps where swifts can make nests. Mr Stainsby said: "There are measures we can take to help such as putting up nest boxes, creating specially designed ‘swift bricks’ in new buildings and of course not blocking up nesting sites.

"All we need is the will to save our swifts and to know where the birds that still return are nesting.The findings made between now and august will help us to identify measures we can take."

Contact www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/conservation-and-sustainability/safeguarding-species/help-us-help-swifts or Mr Stainsby on 01677 424460.