Greetings from Jerusalem, whose holy sites host some of the oldest colonies of nesting swifts
The scythe-winged birds have nested in the cracks of the Western Wall and other holy sites in Jerusalem for thousands of years.
Jerusalem’s ancient stone walls are home to an unexpected long-running tenancy: nesting swifts that have used cracks in the city’s sacred sites for thousands of years, according to an NPR News report.
The birds, described in the feed as scythe-winged swifts, have nested in the Western Wall and other holy locations across Jerusalem for generations far longer than any modern city has existed. Their presence in the old city underscores how wildlife can adapt to even the most heavily visited and historically significant places.
The report highlights a striking natural tradition unfolding amid one of the world’s most famous religious landscapes. The swifts have found shelter in narrow crevices of the stonework, returning year after year to the same kinds of protected spaces. In Jerusalem, where centuries of human history are visible in the architecture and walls, the birds’ nesting habits form a quiet parallel history of their own.
The feed summary does not provide additional details about the birds’ population, seasonal behavior or conservation status, but it makes clear that their connection to Jerusalem’s holy sites is exceptionally old. That longevity gives the swifts a rare place in the city’s story, linking the natural world with a setting more commonly associated with pilgrimage, prayer and historical memory.
This article is based on a monitored public feed and summarizes the available information from NPR News without adding unverified details.
Source: NPR News - https://www.npr.org/2026/07/22/g-s1-134756/jerusalem-swifts-birds-nesting-western-wall
