A BEAUTIFUL summer visitor is having a tough time.

But the Ludlow Swift Group wants people to help a bird that is suffering from loss of habitat. Swifts are birds that return from Africa each summer to breed here.

Swifts are the most ‘urban’ of migrant birds as they nest almost exclusively on buildings.

The Swift Group is urging people to remember that if they have swifts in the skies around them and need to do work on the house or roof the birds may be nesting, so it's important to take care.

Whilst it is not against the law to make changes to a building which might affect nesting swifts, it is illegal to do so during the breeding season (typically May to August).

Keeping natural nest sites is best but swifts will use nest boxes and there are many designs available.