Swift Conservation is a small, highly specialized, not-for-profit organization dedicated to stopping the decline of the Common Swift (Apus apus) across the UK and Europe.
Unlike larger charities, Swift Conservation operates with no salaries and focuses almost entirely on providing free, practical advice and support to individuals, builders, architects, and communities on how to provide or save nest places for Swifts.
Core Mission and Approach
The organization's mission is founded on the fact that Swifts are in decline globally and are facing an acute crisis in the UK because they have lost their traditional nesting sites due to modern building practices.
1. The Nesting Site Crisis
Common Swifts are unique in that they spend their entire lives airborne, landing only to nest. They traditionally nest in gaps under eaves, behind fascias, or under loose roof tiles in older buildings.
- The Threat: Modern insulation, building repairs, and demolition effectively seal off these traditional entry points, causing the breeding population to collapse.
- The Solution: Swift Conservation focuses on the immediate, practical solution: ensuring that current nest sites are protected and that new, permanent nest sites (swift bricks or boxes) are built into new or refurbished buildings.
2. Practical Advocacy and Support
Swift Conservation's work is driven by highly detailed, practical guidance:
- Technical Advice: They review building plans and provide advice on optimal sites for fitting Swift nest bricks and boxes for architects, developers, and builders.
- Guidance for Builders: They offer clear instructions, backed by wildbird law, on how to proceed when working at a known Swift nest site, prioritizing leaving existing nests undisturbed and replacing access holes exactly as they were.
- DIY Resources: They provide free designs for Do-It-Yourself nest boxes and leaflets to empower individuals and school groups to start their own local projects.
- Swift First Aid: They offer essential guidance on what to do if a member of the public finds a fallen Swift, connecting them to rescue resources.
3. Community Mobilization
The organization encourages a grassroots, localized approach:
- They run a comprehensive list of upcoming talks and presentations across the UK and Europe to raise awareness among ornithological societies and local groups.
- They encourage participation in citizen science through tools like the RSPB Swift Mapper App and BirdTrack to help accurately monitor where Swifts are breeding and migrating.
By focusing on direct intervention, education, and technical support, Swift Conservation has positioned itself as the definitive source of expertise for anyone looking to help these spectacular birds—which travel to the Congo and East Africa for the winter—survive and thrive in the UK's urban environment.
