About Swifts
Swifts are amazing birds that spend all their time in the air, even sleeping! They only touch ground at the nest site.
Swifts need our help, their population in the UK is fast declining. There are 60% less than there were 30years ago, and this is mainly driven by nest site loss. They simply have nowhere to breed when they arrive back from Africa in May. This may be because the roof that they use has been closed off, or there is no space in new buildings.
If we look after existing nest sites we can stabilise and grow Swift colonies in Norwich & Norfolk, and keep these wonderful birds racing across our skies through summer.
Key things you can do to help Swifts
>) When carrying out roof repairs, ask your roofer to NOT install the bird guards/combs along the gutter line
>) Install swift nesting bricks in new builds/extensions/retrofit on repairs of brickwork
>) Install nest boxes
Swifts can reach 69mph in level flight
In level flight, nothing outflies a Common Swift. Peregrines only reach faster speeds when stooping, folding wings in and 'falling', onto their prey from height.
Swifts return to the same nest site each year
The nest site is very important to a Swift. It is where they reunite with their mate after a winter spent in African skies. If their nest site is closed off, they may not reunite so not only do they have to find a new nest site, but also a new mate.
Swifts eat LOTS of small insects
Swifts eat an insect diet of mainly small flies and beetles, catching them with a wide open mouth in mid-air. You can see them hunting in large numbers over flowering crops. They store hundreds of insects in a bolus in their throats to bring back to their young. They are great pest controllers!
Swifts can fly millions of miles in a lifetime
Swifts live to an average of 9yrs but the oldest known was almost 20. Being continuously airborne means they do a lot of airmiles!
Get Involved
HOW DO I LOOK AFTER THE SWIFTS WHERE I LIVE?
Please do become a champion for swifts in your community, it is very rewarding.
In summer, look out for which buildings swifts nest in and record them here:
https://www.swiftmapper.org.uk/ Swift Mapper
Look out when scaffolding is up, or roof repairs are being carried out, advice is available to carry out the work so that swifts can continue to use their roof nest site. WORK MUST NOT DISTURB ACTIVE NEST SITES IN THE BREEDING SEASON (late April to August), unless it is an emergency, but even then it can be carried out to allow the birds to continue breeding. Scaffolding not being used for roof repair but for other building works, can cause a problem for access during the breeding season, this is also considered disturbance. The birds must be allowed entry to their nest sites.
Put up as many boxes as you can, organise a community project, Norwich Swift Network can help you with this. It can be street projects to build and/or install nest boxes, boxes in church towers, or on schools and other community buildings.
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Also check out
What We Do
Norwich Swift Network was set up in 2020 to try and raise awareness of the decline in Swifts in Norwich and Norfolk, a decline typical of the rest of the country.
We try to support communities who want to help their local Swift colonies, and we do this by helping them install nest boxes on home or community buildings, provide information about call playing, and give them the confidence to lead their own projects.
We engage with local planning authorities to advocate for swift bricks as planning conditions in new developments.
We also engage with housing associations and local councils to provide nesting opportunities for all roof-nesting birds when refurbishment work is being carried out on their properties.
Swift with a full throat heading back to a nest.
Swift preening in mid-air, they even sleep and mate on the wing.
