Swift nest box schemes are transforming the welfare of this charismatic summer visitor by providing nest sites to replace those lost through building renovation and demolition.
Swift welfare is fundamentally linked to nest site availability. Unlike many bird species, swifts are specialised for nesting in cavities in human buildings and have few alternative options when these sites are renovated or demolished. Pairs that lose long-established nest sites may fail to find alternatives, reducing breeding success and forcing them to prospect in suboptimal locations. Swift box schemes provide guaranteed welfare for returning birds and create new breeding opportunities that expand local populations. Incorporating swift bricks into new buildings is both cheap and highly effective, and is increasingly required by planning authorities.