“An aerial acrobat that rarely touches the ground, the swift spends years in flight — even sleeping on the wing. It winters in sub-Saharan Africa and nests on rooftops across Europe during the rest of the year. This remarkable bird can reach top speeds of up to 111 km/h.
Swifts now face the threat of extinction due to a sharp decline in insect populations and the loss of their traditional nesting sites. While they once nested in caves and hollow trees, they have relied on buildings for centuries.”
Swift populations have declined by 66%
Swift numbers in Britain have dropped by 66% between 1995 and 2022, and their population continues to decline rapidly. The most recent count recorded just 59,000 breeding pairs, and this summer the number is expected to fall to only 40,000 pairs. Within five years, their numbers could drop below 25,000 pairs, according to The Guardian.
What is the Swift Brick Campaign?
In response to the loss of nesting sites, writer Hannah Bourne-Taylor launched a campaign three years ago to make it mandatory for every new home to include a special type of brick called a “swift brick,” which provides safe nesting spaces for swifts.
Other nesting solutions for swifts
Another option is the use of wooden swift nest boxes, which are widely available and very effective — provided they are installed at a height of at least 4.5 meters above ground, and away from south-facing walls, as these can get too hot for nesting birds. Although integrated swift bricks are more expensive to install, they are slightly better because they offer cooler nesting spaces and tend to last longer than wooden boxes.
How do swifts find nesting sites?
Loyal to their nesting sites, swifts can sometimes take time to discover new opportunities, especially if house sparrows settle in first. Swifts often look for nesting spots where they see sparrows, taking it as a sign that there are suitable cavities available.
Swifts roam the skies in search of insects to feed on, and their sword-shaped wings make them the most efficient fliers at high speeds — they are believed to be the fastest of all small birds.
The Incredible Life of Swifts
A swift’s nest is made of twigs, buds, moss, or feathers, all glued together with its sticky saliva and attached to a cave wall, the inside of a chimney, a rocky crevice, or a hollow tree. Swifts can often be seen soaring high above a wide range of habitats, searching for tiny invertebrates to feed themselves and their chicks.
Swifts fly rapidly around buildings at rooftop level. They are master fliers, spending almost their entire lives in the air — eating, drinking, sleeping, and even mating while flying. They typically land only to nest, which is why you will never see them perched on overhead wires like swallows.
