A faint scream from up high. Or was it? Scanning the sky, I see nothing but clouds. The days are ticking by without a sighting – maybe they've gone, maybe summer is over. But then I hear that unmistakable sound again and look skyward: swifts! I watch as they flit effortlessly between gentle cruising and rapid bursts of speed, twisting and turning as they gorge themselves on tiny aerial invertebrates.
Swifts are true masters of the air. They eat, bathe, mate and even sleep on the wing. Their daredevil summer flights are breath-taking spectacles: they propel themselves at breakneck speed down narrow streets, skirting inches over rooftops, before pulling off handbrake turns.
Their unique aerial lifestyle is epitomised by their nightly routine. As the day ends, instead of seeking out a discreet…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, July 2024