Wildlife

Common Swift Chick Welfare: Early Life in the Nest

Swift chicks develop over 42 days in nest cups, entirely dependent on parents returning with food boluses. Poor weather significantly reduces feeding frequency and chick survival.

Key Facts

Swift chicks grow from 3g at hatching to 45g at fledging
Parents may feed chicks 30-40 food boluses per day
Chicks can enter torpor during food shortages to conserve energy
Cold wet summers drastically reduce aerial invertebrate availability
Nest cups are typically reused each year — disturbance causes abandonment

Welfare Considerations

Swift chicks are highly vulnerable to food deprivation during extended periods of cold or wet weather. Rapid urban development and the loss of traditional nesting sites in old buildings have reduced breeding success substantially. When nest sites are disturbed during the breeding season, chicks may die from exposure or starvation.

What You Can Do

Install swift nest boxes on south-facing walls at height
Avoid building maintenance between May and August
Report swift sightings to the RSPB Swift Mapper
Support campaigns for swift bricks in new-build regulations
Reduce insecticide use to support aerial invertebrate prey