Amnonn Hahn works to preserve nesting sites for common swifts in Israel as modern architecture limits space for the birds.
Amnonn Hahn, the chair of the Friends of the Swifts Association in Israel, is leading an effort to secure nesting spaces for common swifts as modern building techniques reduce available habitats. These birds, which migrate from East Africa to Israel every spring, have historically nested in the nooks and crannies of ancient structures like the Western Wall. However, Hahn notes that modern glass skyscrapers and neat constructions often leave "no space for swifts," forcing nestlings to fall out of inadequate spots between broken bricks. To combat this, Hahn has worked with city councils and schools to install nesting boxes made from repurposed ammunition boxes. These structures provide spacious homes where swifts can raise their young. Hahn, who became dedicated to the birds after a paragliding experience in 1999, now ensures that even as urban areas face demolition and reconstruction, the swifts will have reliable places to nest for future generations.