Wildlife

Wild Swift Nesting and Urban Welfare

Swifts nest exclusively in buildings and face a welfare crisis from modern construction practices eliminating nesting access across the UK.

Key Facts

Swifts arrive from Africa in May and depart by August, spending just 3 months in the UK
They nest exclusively in cavities in buildings, never touching the ground
Modern building methods and renovation seal swift access points routinely
Swift nest boxes and specially designed bricks provide replacement access
Swifts are highly site-faithful and return to the same nest site for 20+ years

Welfare Considerations

Swift nesting site loss causes breeding failure after a 6,000-mile migration. Individual birds returning to find nest sites sealed face reproductive failure and wasted migration investment. Building swift access into new construction and restoration is a low-cost, high-impact welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Install swift nest boxes before May on appropriate buildings
Advocate for swift bricks to be included in new building planning requirements
Record swift nest sites and report them to RSPB monitoring programs