Swifts in decline – Have you seen any?

Swifts nest almost exclusively on buildings in the UK.Mark Thomas (rspb-images.com)

July 2011. Although lots of people are helping swifts when they arrive in the UK for summer, sadly there are many who are making their lives harder, says the RSPB.

John Day, Urban Advisor for the wildlife charity says: "Many people have really taken these incredible birds to heart and lots of people are stepping up to do all they can to help them once they arrive in the skies above our towns and cities. But, imagine how you would feel if you came home from holiday to find your house boarded up, or worse; demolished? That is exactly what is happening to our swifts."

The RSPB is aware of local authorities that have installed nestbox bricks into new buildings, and one has even gone to great lengths to retrofit the bricks into existing buildings. Some construction companies are also fitting nestbox bricks into new buildings and halting the demolition of old sites until swifts have left, while mitigating for the birds in the rebuild. The RSPB has also heard from members of the public who have instigated projects on their own houses, using local builders to create new nests during restoration work.

Nest destruction
In contrast, as fast as sites are being created, the RSPB is still hearing of people putting up scaffolding and fitting plastic spikes around swift nests, preventing access and in doing so, potentially committing an offence.

Swift search - Have you seen any?
The wildlife charity's annual ‘swift search' is in full swing, with the summer migrants now taking up residence around the UK for the summer. The RSPB is asking people to submit information on-line about where swifts are ‘screaming' and flying very low around buildings.

The RSPB is appealing to us all to look out for groups of screaming swifts at roof level, a good sign they are breeding nearby, or where they have seen swifts nesting - perhaps entering a hole in the building or under a roof. They would like any sightings reported to them via their website at www.rspb.org.uk/helpswifts. 

Local authorities, the construction industry, and consultant ecologists

It is also asking local authorities, the construction industry, and consultant ecologists to get involved. This can help inform them where to target protection of existing and provision of new nests.

John Day says: "Through speaking to people about the survey we are hearing lots of reports of swift nest sites being wiped out or access to them made extremely difficult. This is often unintentional, but sadly is sometimes deliberate too. We desperately want to make as many people as possible aware that these birds need our help.

Simple measures to help swifts
"There are some simple things we can all do to help, like delaying restoration work on buildings where birds are nesting, until they have finished, retaining existing nests, creating access inside new buildings with nestbox bricks and putting up custom made external nestboxes."

33% decline
Swifts have declined by a third in recent years and they have been placed on the amber list, meaning they are of serious conservation concern. The causes of the decline are still unclear, but loss of nest sites due to building improvement or demolition is a major problem. Swifts nest almost exclusively on buildings, especially old structures with lots of gaps and nooks.

Stewart Smith, environmental manager for Kier London, says: "With the appropriate planning and consideration, it is possible to mitigate the impact of the built environment on wildlife. At Kier we promote sustainable construction and work closely with both our clients and ecologists to ensure that we minimise our ecological impact.

"In many cases development can in fact be used to improve habitats for a wide range of species and, working with the RSPB to encourage clients to provide nesting space for not only swifts, but also other key species, represents a small but effective way in which we are looking to drive the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity."

 Swift distribution in UK. © Crown Copyright.