Surveyor (Not on a Reserve) (Greater Manchester Swift Champions (Monitoring))

**Why we need you**

Every spring, Swifts return to our towns and cities after travelling thousands of miles from Africa where they spend the winter. These small birds with scythe-shaped wings have total mastery of the skies. They feed, drink, mate and sleep whilst flying, only landing to nest and raise chicks.

They prefer to build their nests in buildings across our towns and cities, but over time there have become fewer places they can use and their numbers in the UK are down by over half. They are in trouble and the distinctive cries of Swifts that once filled the skies in summer are dwindling.

Urgent action is needed to stop them disappearing from our skies, so we are building a network of Swift Champions across Greater Manchester to raise awareness of and take direct action for Swifts.

**What tasks will you be doing?**

As a **Monitoring volunteer**, you will be helping us to understand how Swifts are doing across Greater Manchester and provide crucial evidence for the protection of existing colonies and the creation of new nest sites. Tasks will include:

- Reporting Swift sightings in communities across Greater Manchester using Swift Mapper and supporting others to do the same.

- Where Swifts have been recorded, conducting more in-depth surveys to determine whether potential nesting sites are occupied following a standard method.

**What will you get out of it?**

- Make a real contribution to helping one of our best loved but least well understood birds.

- By becoming a Swift Champion, you will join a network of people with an interest in helping wildlife thrive in their local communities in the Greater Manchester area, meeting new people and making new friends.

- You will get the chance to develop role specific skills as well as other areas you are interested in learning.

- You will gain experience of working for a conservation charity and make a real difference to the conservation of one of our most special birds.

- Training and ongoing support will be provided. There will also be opportunities to get involved in other RSPB work in the area should you wish.

**What skills and experience will you need?**

If you can spare some time and are interested in making a difference for Swifts in your local community, we'd love to hear from you. Full training and support will be provided. In this role we are especially looking for people who:

- Can spend time surveying for swifts between May and August

- Don't mind being out in the early evening for surveying.

- Some monitoring experience helpful, but full training will be provided

- Any travel or out-of-pocket expenses for activities will be provided.

This is an exciting new initiative that will make a difference for Swifts across the Greater Manchester area. If you want to play a key role in making this happen, we would love to hear from you!

If you are interested in the role, but want to learn more, please get in contact using the form on the right-hand side, or contact Will Bevan - william.bevan@rspb.org.uk