Ride with Some ‘Fantastic Wee Birds’ for Swift Awareness Week

Get Schwifty, or more specifically swifty (Rick and Morty fans will know what I’m on about, all others will think I’m going swiftly mad). The RSPB is launching a number of cycling and walking routes around Edinburgh to celebrate Swift Awareness Week from 3-11 July. You asked for more wildlife stories, this is a wildlife story and it includes bikes. Don’t say we don’t come up with the goods.

The highlight of the press release is the ‘fantastic wee bird’ part. Want to spot them? You can take a ride through the city on a choice of four routes.

Swift Awareness Week

The common swift is the fastest recorded bird at level flight. They return to Edinburgh at the start of May, after flying non-stop for nine months above the rainforests of The Congo. This fantastic wee bird has been swooping through our Scottish skies for the last few months, feeding on flying insects and taking up to a thousand insects back to their young brood in each mouthful. At just four weeks old these little hatchlings start doing press ups inside the nest! They do this to get strong enough for their long journey south at the end of July.

RSPB

Swift Numbers Declining

On a more serious note, the Swift species is rapidly declining. The routes and awareness week aim to raise awareness and let people know how they can help. The RSPB report that, “Numbers have declined 58% between 1995-2018, thought to be due to habitat loss and a changing climate.”

The cycle paths connect areas that are important for swifts across the city. These include streets and community buildings where new swift nest boxes have been installed, which will help halt their decline. The routes also link key green spaces across the city where you may see swifts feeding. Communities in some areas are giving nature a home. They are planting for wildlife and promoting pesticide-free gardening to encourage more insects for swifts.

Along the routes, there will also be mesmerizing murals painted by local artists and youth groups. We invite people to help conserve swifts via Citizen Science SwiftSurveys and log your sightings using the Swift Mapper app. Keep your eyes to the sky and you are likely to see them flying around. Particularly close to dawn and dusk.

RSPB

The Routes

Route 1: Migration Route, 50KM

Migration Route (50 km) click here to see map.

Haymarket – Canal – Ratho – Balerno – Colinton Tunnel – Haymarket

Route Two: The Swift, 30KM

The Swift (30km) click here to see map.

Haymarket – Muirhouse – Granton – Leith links – Lochend – Abbeyhill – Meadowbank – Arthurs Seat – Bruntsfield – Canal – Haymarket

Route Three: Bike Beak, 20KM

Bike Beak (20km) click here to see map.

Haymarket – Muirhouse – Granton – Leith – Water of Leith – Haymarket

Route Four: On the Wing, 20KM

On the wing (13 miles/20km). Click here to see map.

Haymarket – Water of Leith – Leith Links – Lochend – Abbeyhill colonies – Meadowbank – Arthurs Seat – Bruntsfield – Canal – Haymarket.

For further details, head to the Swift Local Group site.

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