Wildlife Welfare

Wild Common Swift Nesting and Welfare

Common swifts have declined significantly due to loss of nesting sites in building renovations, with swift bricks providing effective mitigation.

Key Facts

UK swift populations have declined by 60% since 1995
Swifts nest exclusively in buildings and are entirely aerial outside the nesting season
Building renovations that seal eaves and rooflines destroy nesting sites
Swift nest bricks integrated into new buildings provide permanent replacement sites
Swifts return to the same nest site year after year

Welfare Considerations

Swifts that cannot find suitable nest sites face breeding failure after their epic migration from Africa. The loss of nest sites through building renovation is a preventable welfare and conservation problem. Installing swift bricks in new and renovated buildings is a simple, permanent solution that directly enables breeding success and reduces welfare impacts from site loss.

What You Can Do

Install swift bricks in new buildings or renovations
Support local swift conservation projects and monitoring groups
Advocate for swift nest site requirements in planning and building regulations