This year, the Amsterdam Swift Work Group will once again organize cycling excursions on Friday evenings in various parts of the city.

Because of its screeching sound in the air, the Swift is an iconic Amsterdam summer bird. A group of interested parties have been going along for a number of weeks, led by Swift Expert. On Friday evening, July 19, there is an excursion in Amsterdam East at 8:30 PM.

“Swifts are only in Amsterdam in May, June and July to breed here, the rest of the year they are in Africa,” says the excursion leader. Of all the birds in the world, the swift spends the most time flying, they even sleep in the air. They can fly 1000 kilometers per day at speeds of 120 km/hour. “You will hear much more interesting information during the excursion,” says a volunteer from the working group.

Friday, July 19 is the Swift Cycling Excursion through the Plantagebuurt from Valckenierstraat 66 at 8:30 PM. (No registration required)

Since 2013, the municipality of Amsterdam has had the nesting sites of swifts in Amsterdam inventoried and monitored. The results can be seen by everyone at https://maps.amsterdam.nl/vogels/

Swift Work Group Amsterdam tries to preserve as many breeding grounds as possible and to provide new nesting opportunities in new construction and renovations. The working group makes every effort to spread knowledge about this special bird through information evenings and excursions.

“If there is any danger during a renovation, tell us and save the nesting places of the birds,” says the active working group member. Over the past twenty years, Swift Work Group Amsterdam has installed thousands of nest boxes, including in Amsterdam East.