A swift arrival at City Hall?

It was an epic struggle but there was one clear winner.

Yes, Boris Johnson is Mayor of London but I was talking about the arrival of our summer swift population. They've battled Saharan storms, food shortages and blistering temperatures but they've returned to London, all hail the swift.

These birds are truly remarkable. They spend most of their lives on the wing and gobble lots of flying insects. We should be bending over backwards to welcome them and support them. Come on you swifts! Decimate those midge and mosquito clouds, save us from red bite marks and unbearable itching. Entertain us with your acrobatics and make us smile as you effortlessly dash into tiny cracks in our eaves with exquisite precision. Sadly, many traditional swift homes have been removed. Modern roofing practices and designs mean there are few, if any, nooks or crannies in which they can nest.

Look up and see if you can spot a few of them. Their crescent shaped wings setting them apart as they swirl and dive, swoop and play. You'll probably hear them screaming to each other of an evening. A real sign of summer and yes, I did see some in the sky high above City Hall - but I defy them to find a potential nest-site on that sleek glass structure. Swift boxes could be added if you're reading this Boris!

In that other epic battle, Ken Livingstone was replaced by Boris Johnson. We spent some considerable time talking to the main parties before and during the election. We secured written confirmation on their environmental manifestos, so, now we're looking for delivery.

Boris promised to:

• reinforce London’s role as a leader in the fight against climate change by committing to a target of reducing CO2 emissions within London by 60% from 1990 levels by 2025 and opposing airport expansion;
• bring back London’s lost habitats by using the influence of the Office of Mayor (political, financial and leadership) to deliver the targets set out in the London Plan for habitat creation and wildlife protection;
• get people closer to nature by creating and enhancing accessible greenspace networks. Driving forward a Priority Parks Programme (£6M to revive rundown parks) and plant 10,000 street trees;
• amend the London Plan to protect gardens from the threat of development for housing.

The RSPB will be seeking assurance from Boris that he will not pursue his idea of proposing a new airport in the Thames Estuary. This is an internationally protected area incorporating unique habitats supporting a wide variety of resident and migratory species.

RSPB staff will also be seeking agreement on a number of other issues already raised with Boris Johnson and his campaign team. Addressing these issues will support our campaigns and conservation policies. These include:

• a partnership to encourage Londoners to manage gardens and communal areas for wildlife. Private gardens make up a fifth of Greater London’s land area and could be invaluable for protecting London from the potential ravages of climate change, while also supporting more wildlife;
• rejecting biofuels as a solution to reducing transport emissions until sustainability can be assured;
• reinvigorating the Mayor’s biodiversity strategy and establish clear delivery, reporting and scrutiny mechanisms;
• extending provision of free school visits to suitable outdoor locations and venues, to widen the opportunity for children to learn about the environment.

Congratulations Boris. Now let's get down to business to make our Capital a healthier and more welcoming place for all its residents; human and otherwise.