A FLOCK of birds nested in an iconic museum tower has provided the inspiration for a wildlife photography competition.

Snappers are invited to submit their shots of swifts to Oxford University Museum of Natural History’s wildlife photography exhibition.

The best image will then feature in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which will be at the museum, in Parks Road, until September 22.

The museum’s public engagement officer, Scott Billings, said: “We have taken inspiration from the swifts in our tower. They come back every spring and have been here for decades.”

The competition’s closing date is August 15, after which the best shot be included in the exhibition.

Amateur photographer Mr Billings said the contest was designed to appeal to photographers of all abilities.

He said: “If you’re just going for a silhouette image against the sky then you don’t need a really long lens.

“A standard point and shoot camera will be okay because you can capture that shot with a basic camera.”

He then dished out some top tips for those who wanted to try their chances behind the lens.

Mr Billings said: “It will take patience, that’s the main thing. They will swoop around a lot during the early evening they get nice and excited and the light is nicer.”

The exhibition is open now and free to enter.

Entries should be emailed to communications@oum.ox.ac.uk

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