A 15-year study by the RSPB has found that 94% of swifts return to the same nesting site each year, emphasizing the critical need to protect nesting sites for this red-listed species. The swift, one of Britain's most threatened birds, has declined by 70% since 1995 due to loss of nesting sites when old buildings are re-roofed or insulated.
Study details and findings
Scientists studied 190 different swifts from 243 nests over 15 years in Drewsteignton, Devon. They found that swifts have greater loyalty to their nest site than to a partner, with only 59% of birds pairing with the same partner. Nest camera footage showed fierce debates over nest box use.
Conservation implications
Malcolm Burgess, principal conservation scientist for the RSPB, said: “We’ve anecdotally thought for a long time that swifts are loyal, returning to the same nesting sites and partners each spring. But for the first time, we’ve documented just how strongly faithful they are to their nest sites, which highlights just how important it is to protect their nesting sites in our neighbourhoods.”
While Scotland has made swift bricks mandatory in new buildings, the English government has refused to require builders to include a £35 swift brick in new homes. The study was published ahead of UK Swift Awareness Week, with over 150 local swift groups hosting events.
Current threats and community action
Nick Brown, coordinator of Swift Awareness Week, warned that heatwaves may cause chicks to die in nests. Local swift groups have volunteers to rescue grounded swiftlets, which cannot take off from the ground without help. Brown noted that community support for swifts is growing exponentially, despite lack of government action.
