Wildlife

Wild Swift Nesting and Building Welfare

Common swifts nest exclusively in building cavities and face severe habitat loss from modern construction and renovation practices.

Key Facts

Swift populations have declined by 60% in the UK since 1994 primarily due to building renovation
Swifts cannot take off from the ground and are completely dependent on building nest sites
A swift pair returns to the same nest site each year for life, spanning 20+ years
Swift boxes incorporated into new buildings provide long-term nesting habitat
Swifts feed entirely on airborne insects, making them indicators of flying insect abundance

Welfare Considerations

Loss of nesting sites causes breeding failure and population decline that represents welfare harm at population scale. Individual swifts grounded or unable to access nest sites face mortality. Building regulations requiring swift bricks in new construction prevent this preventable welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Install swift boxes on buildings before swift return in May
Advocate for swift brick requirements in local planning regulations
Check for occupied swift nests before renovating buildings in summer
Learn swift calls to identify nesting sites in your neighbourhood