AS DUSK sets in over Ludlow there is a chance to see some spectacular aerobatics.

The arrival of spring has brought visitors back to the town from Africa and they provide a very special view in the evening sky.

In fact these visitors are so important that Ludlow has its own group of enthusiasts to help them and to provide homes during their stay.

There are many parts of the town where these challengers to the ‘Red Arrows’ can be seen but a good spot is by the river alongside the Charlton Arms.

By now it should be obviously that the subject of such rave notices is the swift.

There are birds that fly faster and do some remarkable things but when it comes to swifts there is nothing to touch them as far as endurance is concerned.

It sounds unbelievable but these birds spend up to three years on the wing. Like seabirds they only land in order to breed.

Identification is fairly simple and the loud screaming calls along with the scythe shaped wings make them difficult to miss.

If there is any risk of mistaken identity it might be with martins and swallows. But swifts are distinctive in that they tend either to fly at roof top level or very high.

Unlike martins and swallows they will very rarely be seen on walls or perching on wires.

When a swift returns to Ludlow it is looking for a home in which to breed and raise its family and this is just one brood with two or three eggs.

Sadly the birds have something in common with young people and those on modest means in Ludlow and that is increasing difficulty in finding a home.

Traditionally nests have been found in churches and farm buildings as well as cliffs. But changes in agriculture and with fewer buildings having traditional eaves finding suitable places to nest has become more difficult.

But this is where the Ludlow Swift Group and similar bird lovers in other parts of the country come in by helping to provide special nest boxes.

Whilst things can change very quickly in nature and there is a need for constant vigilance there appears to be no immediate threat to this wonderful bird.

Swifts are very much creatures of the season and when they start to arrive in April and early May we can be confident that winter is over.

But their lease, like summer, is short and they will set off back to warmer climates in August and September signifying the end of summer.

The swift does not appear to have read the literature of the Green Party and does not seem to be changing its habits yet in response to climate change.

Swifts are social birds and live in flocks. Each bird has a typical life expectancy of about 10 years.

They are a wonderful sight, especially in the evening as the light starts to fade and they are seen at roof top level in their full glory.