Swift flying into a nest box © Nick Upton
How to help swifts
There are many ways you can help look after swifts in your local area - scroll for more.
Download our free guide about swifts (pdf)
Swifts are on the UK Red List, having suffered serious declines in recent decades. It's estimated that almost 60% of UK swifts have disappeared over the last 25 years.The Wildlife Trusts
A grounded swift © Sue Kane
I've spotted a swift on the ground, what should I do?
Please DON’T throw it into the air or out of a window. DON’T leave it on the ground. DON’T try to care for it yourself as its a specialist job. DO contact your local swift group for help & advice!
I've spotted a swift going into a nest.
Let your local swift group know if you believe there are swifts nesting in your property or a nearby property.
I have swifts nesting on my property and I'm planning renovations/extensions/roof /soffit repairs/pointing repairs.
The main thing to remember is to avoid blocking or restricting access to any nest sites, for example if the birds access via holes in the mortar or under soffits etc. These holes can be surprisingly small, so please check carefully. Download this free guide (pdf) to safeguarding swifts in your property or contact your local swifts group
I'm planning a new-build or extension.
Please consider installing a nest brick. Ideally a building will need to meet certain criteria for the likelihood of attracting swifts such as ground clearance of 4-5m. However, these bricks are still worth installing if you don't meet this criteria, as they'll provide an excellent potential home for many other species of wildlife too! Download our free guide (pdf) on how to position a swift brick into a building. And contact your local swift group or wildlife group for further advice.
I've seen a swift nest site at someone else’s property.
If you think they're planning renovations, extensions, roof/soffit repairs, pointing repairs or putting up scaffolding, please contact your local swift group to let them know. Also, if this property goes up for sale please let your local swift group know.
I'm in the building trade or decorating trade, or know someone who is.
Find out about safeguarding swifts and encourage others to also follow the above actions. Explain what a swift nest might look like, so they know what to look out for. Your local swifts group can help to advise them too, so please pass the group information onto them, or - if easier - ask for their email and pass this to your local swifts group who can send them some information.
Swift flying out of a swift nest box © Vaughn Matthews
Help a local colony of swifts
As swifts always prefer to live in colonies, close to each-other, if your property is in an area where there are already swifts nesting on other buildings, it might be worth installing a swift box. Contact your local swift group for advice on how to do this or see this guide on how to install a swift box here, and if you'd like to make your own visit our 'how to build a swift box' page.
Get involved with a survey
If you’d like to help survey your local swift population, please contact your local swifts group.
Food for swifts
Help swifts find food by gardening in a wildlife-friendly way. Insects from your garden may spiral into the air and be snapped up by the birds.
Swift in a nest box © Vaughn Matthews
Save our swifts
Look out for campaigns and events happening in your area by following your local swifts group on their social channels. There'll be activities taking place during Swift Awareness Week from 29 June - 7 July 2024.
Upcoming events
If there are any upcoming events about swifts, we'll show them to you below.