Fake swifts to attract real thing

This swift is cardboard - but it is hoped speakers will attract the real thing

A north London borough is hoping to attract swifts to the inner city - by playing a recording of their calls from the rooftop of a building.

Islington Council has been reproducing swift cries from speakers on an Upper Street office for the last two weeks.

The stereo - which can be heard from the street - plays from 1600 BST to 2000 BST daily.

The plan is backed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which says the UK's swift population has halved.

Councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington Council's environment chief, said: "Swifts are amazing migrant birds and a welcome addition to Islington.

"We're striving to create a greener borough and encouraging birds, including swifts, to nest in Islington is just one way of doing this."

Islington has less park-space per head than almost anywhere else in England.

Swifts are in trouble - and they need our help RSPB spokesman

The council hopes the recorded birds will attract real ones - and fill the skies of the borough with distinctive crescent-shaped birds.

The idea is to convince them there is already a large swift colony in residence.

A Royal Society for the Protection of Birds spokesman said: "Swifts are in trouble - we've lost almost half the UK nesting population in the last 10 years and they need our help.

"Playing swift calls will create an impression that there is already a colony and will hopefully attract newcomers to the swift boxes the council have put in place.

"Hopefully the people of Islington will be able to enjoy the screams of the swifts signalling the summer for many years to come."