Wildlife

Swift Welfare and Extreme Weather Events

Common swifts are highly vulnerable to cold, wet summers which reduce insect abundance and threaten breeding success and chick survival.

Key Facts

Swifts feed entirely on aerial insects and spiders caught in flight
Cold wet weather grounds insects, cutting off food supply
Chick starvation is a major cause of nest failure in poor summers
Adult swifts can enter torpor to survive short food gaps
UK swift populations have declined over 60% since 1995

Welfare Considerations

During prolonged cold spells, swift chicks face starvation as insect prey disappears. Adults may be forced to abandon nests or reduce feeding visits dramatically. Chicks can lower their metabolic rate to survive short gaps but sustained cold leads to severe welfare outcomes including death from starvation and hypothermia.

What You Can Do

Install swift nest boxes to provide secure nesting sites
Support weather monitoring schemes tracking swift breeding success
Report grounded swifts to local wildlife rescues promptly
Advocate for swift-safe building renovation policies
Reduce pesticide use to support insect prey populations