Wildlife

Swift Welfare: Aerial Insectivores and the Climate Crisis

Swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air and face multiple welfare threats from building loss to insect decline.

Key Facts

Swifts can spend 10 months of the year continuously airborne sleeping on the wing
They only land to nest and breed in holes in buildings and cliffs
UK swift populations declined by 53 percent between 1995 and 2016
A single swift may fly 2 million kilometres during its lifetime
They feed entirely on aerial insects and spiders caught in flight

Welfare Considerations

Swifts face welfare crises from two directions. Loss of traditional nest sites in buildings through renovation and development leaves birds unable to breed. Declining aerial insect populations caused by intensive farming, light pollution, and climate change reduces food availability. Cold wet summers can cause widespread chick mortality when insects are absent for extended periods.

What You Can Do

Install licensed swift nest boxes or bricks in buildings before undertaking renovation work
Join swift conservation groups that map local colonies and advocate for their protection
Support planning applications that include swift nest provision as a condition
Reduce light pollution around known swift nesting sites
Support insect-friendly gardening and farming practices to improve food availability