Common Swift Conservation: Nesting Sites and Welfare

How building renovation and modern construction is destroying swift nesting sites, and what can be done to support these remarkable aerial migrants.

Key Facts

Common swift populations have declined by 53% in the UK since 1995
Swifts return to exactly the same nest site every year and cannot easily relocate
Building renovation destroys nest sites when eaves and gaps are sealed
Swift bricks integrated into new and renovated buildings provide permanent nest sites
Swifts spend almost their entire lives airborne - they are aerially supreme but highly site-faithful

Welfare Considerations

Swift welfare is primarily threatened through loss of nest sites. These aerial specialists cannot nest in trees or on the ground - they require specific cavity access under eaves or in roof spaces that have been present in buildings for centuries. When buildings are renovated without swift nest site protection, pairs return after their African winter to find their nest site sealed. Young swifts born at a site return as adults expecting to nest there - population decline results directly from nest site loss. Providing swift bricks and nest boxes in new and renovated buildings is a direct welfare and conservation intervention.

What You Can Do

Install swift bricks or boxes on any building project or renovation
Check for active swift nests before any building work between May and August
Report swift nest sites to local wildlife groups for monitoring
Support local planning requirements for swift bricks in new developments
Join local swift groups to monitor populations and install nest boxes