Swifts over Broomlands Farm
48 x 30″
Oil on Canvas
Price on Application
Swifts over Broomlands Farm and Warnham Deer Park. Swifts are Red Listed birds of the greatest conservation concern due to their plummeting numbers. There is a small, stable population in and around the village of Warnham. Numerous swift boxes have been installed to help mitigate their natural nest site losses. Alison has swift boxes on her house some of which are occupied by sparrows but she has worked hard to encourage swifts.
However, every summer Alison not only paints swifts but rescues swifts too. Some adults suffer from exhaustion after their long migration back to the UK and become grounded. Therefore, they need specialised care. Alison rehabilitates them and releases them back into the sky as quickly as possible. She also cares for numerous swiftlets every summer, those that fledge too early or fall from their nest during hot weather. She works closely with Edward at Swift Conservation and numerous local swift groups and vets who pass on any fallen swifts. The majority of the swiftlets are dehydrated and emaciated because of the heat or because the parents have left them for too long searching for food. With careful rehab the majority recover and are released.
Swifts are Alison’s favourite bird. Swifts over Broomlands Farm depicts Alison’s home and surrounding area on a warm summer evening. There used to be a large swift colony in the farmhouse roof until the nests were destroyed with roof repairs. However some swifts then made a home in the the farmhouse roof next door to Alison, at Bailing Hill.
In the background are the North Downs and if you look carefully Leith Hill Tower can be seen.