Wildlife

Swift Conservation and Nesting Welfare

Common swifts are declining rapidly across Europe as modern buildings eliminate the roof spaces they depend on for nesting, causing chronic population loss.

Key Facts

UK swift numbers have declined 60% since 1995
Swifts spend their entire non-breeding life on the wing — they sleep, eat and drink in flight
They return to the same nest site annually, sometimes after 5,000 km migrations
Modern building renovation seals roof spaces where swifts traditionally nest
Swift bricks built into new buildings provide permanent nest sites at low cost

Welfare Considerations

Swifts are extremely site-faithful — the loss of a nest site after renovation directly prevents successful breeding, often for the lifetime of the affected pair. Young birds unable to find nest sites cannot reproduce. The welfare impact extends to the multiple seasons of failed breeding attempts before the population declines fully register in monitoring counts. Swift bricks provide a low-cost, long-lasting solution that should be mandatory in new construction.

What You Can Do

Install swift nest boxes on your building in locations with clear flight paths
Advocate for swift bricks to be mandated in new planning permissions in your area
Support the RSPB Swift Mapper project by submitting sightings
Report swift nesting sites before building works begin to allow protective measures