AN initiative has been started to protect swifts in Bridport.
The small birds migrate to Africa during the winter but have returned to the town every year to nest for centuries.
However, swifts have now been listed as an endangered species, with the bird population seeing a 60 per cent decline between 1995 and 2020.
Residents in Bridport are now looking to change that and are trying to make the town a "Swift Town".
Publisher Adrian Cooper, 47, is part of the campaign to help preserve the swifts in the town.
He said: "Swifts are in decline across the country but in Bridport the numbers are actually looking ok, which says something about the town itself.
"We can't take for granted that they always come back, they are a distinctive part of our town.
"The idea of making Bridport a 'Swift Town' is to celebrate the fact that we have an endangered species on our doorstep.
"We should be proud that they use our town as a place to nest.
"We want to celebrate this with several artistic workshops this summer to help spread awareness."
Adrian alongside Bridport Town Council is looking to create a programme of events to celebrate the birds that call Bridport home.
He added: "An annual welcome party for the swifts could become part of the identity of the town.
"In the longer term, we want people to become citizen scientists and use their enthusiasm to record sightings of swifts and help their conservation.
"If we take notice of them, we can look after them, they are a very special local that should always have a home in this town."
Bridport Swift Town is a collaboration between local residents, Common Ground, the Bridport Bird Club, Dorset National Landscape, Bridport Town Council, RSPB, West Dorset Wilding, Little
Toller Books and the Dorset Wildlife Trust.
A meeting was held on Monday, May 20 at Bridport Town Hall as a celebration of the return of the swifts.
The meeting hosted guest speakers who gave information about the birds and how to record them.
A fundraising page has been set up to help fund activities as part of the swift town project.
The fundraising page can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bridport-swift-town
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