Review Swifts in a Tower
A long awaited and overdue edition of the original 1956 ‘Swifts in a Tower’ by the late David Lack, updated by his son, Andrew.
18 Chapters of the original with a further Chapter -19- Sixty Two Years on- looking at what has been learned since about this iconic species. The whole book is framed in a beautifully illustrated Front Cover and end papers by Colin Wilkinson.�
The original �swift photographs have been replaced by modern up to date ones.� Yes a big improvement in clarity and quality but maybe the original photographs should have been included with the original text as well as the updates? This would have meant that the reprint remained true to the original while acknowledging that the photographs were cutting age for their time but enhancing them with the new pictures. Nothing wrong with the original readers wallowing in nostalgia for times and techniques gone by!
The first 18 Chapters are still a classic read. Many swift enthusiasts still have their original much read original copies of Swifts in a Tower which are referred to every year during the breeding season when the birds are back with us. This book will be a great companion for the original.
I found it very interesting and alarming to hear on Page 235 about the precipitous decline in numbers of breeding swifts in the Tower colony around 2008, but mainly after 2012. This appears to have resulted, among other factors, from various human disturbances outlined on Page 212, including surprisingly the use of geologgers.� An indication of the extreme care needed when working with this species on or near the nest.
Many in the swift world had wondered at the time why there was such a decline in the Oxford colony, while other colonies in similar places throughout the UK were growing in number! Let’s hope that from here on in the University authorities are now fully aware of their responsibility to be wise custodians of the swift colony in the Tower of Oxford University Museum of Science a place famous throughout the world to swift enthusiasts. Many of the latter, including myself, inspired by the writings of the late David Lack have made that special ‘pilgrimage’ over the years to the swift tower in the company of the legendary Roy Overall to view the swifts. A magical experience never to be forgotten.�
Chapter 19 overall makes a good stab at updating the reader on the state of knowledge about the species in 2018. However, this is a very difficult task given the recent growth in knowledge. The fact that there have been 5 International Swift Conferences held in the last 8 years alone (2000 – 2018) with another planned for 2020 in Spain is testament to the allure of this fascinating bird.
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