This summer, Manx BirdLife, in partnership with the Manx Bird Club, hosted its first-ever Celebrate our Swifts event in Castletown — and it was a soaring success
More than 100 people joined the celebration, coming together as a community to raise awareness about Swifts on the Isle of Man and explore ways to support this declining species.
Swifts are extraordinary birds — agile, long-distance migrants that spend most of their lives in flight and often nest in urban areas. Sadly, they are now amber-listed on the Isle of Man (BoCCIOM) and have experienced a 66% decline in breeding numbers across Britain between 1995 and 2022 (BTO, 2025). Raising awareness and encouraging action through initiatives like Action for Swifts is vital to monitoring and conserving their population locally.
The event offered a range of engaging, family-friendly activities, including a collaborative community mural led by artist Eve Adams (ART Squared), Swift-themed art workshops in Eve’s studio, a Swift treasure hunt around the Square, and the Manx BirdLife Swift migration game. Visitors also had the chance to learn how they can support Swift conservation efforts here on the Island.
Celebrate our Swifts was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Domestic Event Fund, Curraghs Wildlife Park, Castletown Commissioners, R. Cain Plant Hire, Eve Adams, and the Manx Bird Club.
