Every spring, swifts fly more than 6,000 miles from Africa to return to their nesting sites. Stroud Swift Group and Stroud Valleys Project (SVP) are joining forces with the all-female dance troupe to give the swifts a warm welcome as they begin to arrive back in the district. The event, which takes place at SVP’s eco shop in central Stroud on Saturday, May 6, will offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable bird, which spends its life on the wing, apart from the few weeks each year when it raises its chicks.

‘Sadly, these amazing birds are in trouble and are now red-listed,’ explains Gill Stacey of Stroud Swift Group. ‘Figures suggest that the swift population has declined by nearly 60% in the last 25 years. One major factor is the loss of nesting sites. Swifts depend almost entirely on our buildings, squeezing into small nooks and crannies under roof tiles or soffits. When older buildings are refurbished, these tiny openings are often sealed up and the nest sites are lost; and newbuilds often don’t have places for swifts to nest.’

As well as watching dancing, visitors to the Welcome Back Our Swifts stall outside SVP’s eco shop between 9.30am and 2pm will be able to create their own simple swift kites, hear the unique scream of the swift, and find out what we can all do to keep swifts thriving.

Every spring, swifts fly more than 6,000 miles from Africa to return to their nesting sites. ‘Our stall will feature bunting decorated with the distinctive shape of the swift, painstakingly created by our friend from Cirencester Swift Group, Cherry Hubbard,’ says Gill. ‘Cherry has also been hard at work on a special swift puppet.

‘It’s hard to say exactly when the swifts will return. It’s a long, tough journey for them and they can be affected by unpredictable weather. But in the coming weeks, we’ll be anxiously watching the skies, for the first sight of their instantly recognisable sickle-shaped wings and the unmistakable sound of their screams.’