As Common Swift rush down Aylsham’s narrow streets, you can feel the draught and hear their screams. Glimpsing these sky dwellers dip under tiles to the small, dark spaces where they raise their families is a special moment. In five to eight weeks, depending on food provision, chicks develop from hatchlings to fledglings ready for their first flight to Africa.

Swifts have lived among us for generations. But as older properties are repaired, renovated or demolished, nest sites are disappearing. When nests are blocked temporarily by scaffolding or permanently after roof, soffit or insulation work, Swifts may be injured trying to reach their nest. Unlike other species that build new nests, Swifts return to the same space year after year, yet there is no legal protection outside the breeding season. When Swifts are forced to move on, a small colony can easily disappear from a town or village. Between 1995 and 2020, the UK breeding population of Swifts decreased by 60% [BTO], placing Swift on the UK Red List.

Swifts’ airborne lifestyle and cavity nesting behaviour make them a difficult species to study across their annual cycle. Reasons for their decline are thought to be the loss of nesting sites, the decline in insect prey, and poor summer weather, which reduces the availability of airborne insects. Researchers don’t yet fully understand the impact of insect decline, so for now, nest sites are the focus of Swift conservation.

Across the UK, local groups like Aylsham Swift Group (ASG) are part of the Swift Local Network (SLN) sharing knowledge and resources. Our work includes identifying nest sites and giving advice on retaining access, providing information on nest boxes, soffit boxes and Swift bricks, and organising nest box projects. We hope to complement the work of nature groups locally, including the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Churchyard Conservation Scheme, the RSPB Swift conservation campaign, and the Aylsham Climate Emergency (ACE) Nature & Biodiversity projects to improve green and blue spaces, supported by Aylsham Community Shed with nest boxes.

Aylsham has welcomed Swifts for generations but knowing where they nest is crucial to the protection and expansion of colonies. Since 2023, ASG has conducted surveys to record screaming parties and nest sites. We add data to Swift Mapper, an online tool promoted by the RSPB, and send data to the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. By locating nest sites, we hope that homeowners, ecologists and council planners can help protect them. To raise awareness locally, we delivered postcards to all houses in “Swift streets”. If scaffolding goes up where Swifts nest, we talk to owners or deliver a leaflet about Swifts and how to protect nests. Knowing nest locations also helps people look out for grounded adults or chicks and get prompt expert care. 

In 2025, we observed 75 nest sites under pantiles and eaves across 49 properties compared to 77 across 46 properties in 2024. Some nests seen this year were not seen in previous years and some seen in 2023 and/or 2024 were not seen this year. Differences in nest numbers are likely due to the difficulty in observing nest activity. Last summer, 4 nest boxes and 4 nest bricks were used by Swifts compared to 0 nest boxes and 4 nest bricks in 2024. At least 58 nest boxes for Swifts have been put up by homeowners and 13 nest bricks retrofitted, with a further 8 installed by the developer in Bure Meadows. Nest surveys provide a wonderful opportunity to talk to people in the community and share stories about Swifts!

In 2023, 30 nest boxes were installed in the belfry of Aylsham Parish Church, a collaborative project between Norwich Swift Network, Aylsham Swift Group, and the Church. The nesting units were designed by Caroline Spinks and made by local cabinetmaker Carey Whiteman with materials supplied by C T Baker. Funds raised locally provided a Peak Boxes call system. Church belfries are ideal for Swift, providing protection from weather and clear access to multiple nesting places. Although the belfry has not had summer tenants yet, Swifts are nesting in Reepham Church.

Although nest boxes are popular with Swifts across the UK, very few are occupied in Aylsham. Reasons could be that new breeders are finding cavities, or they join a colony elsewhere because they don’t yet see external boxes as nesting spaces. Playing recordings of duet calls attracts new pairs to the boxes and in turn, future prospecting birds catch on. Last year, ASG loaned Peak Boxes Swift call systems to three residents. One resident in a key street for Swift saw high interest in her boxes for the first time! Location also matters in terms of height, flight path, predator risk, and weather protection.

Aylsham Swift Group advocates for nest bricks in new developments by commenting on planning applications and contacting councils and developers. In Aylsham, Norfolk Homes will install 42 nest boxes for Swifts and Hopkins Homes plan to install Action for Swifts universal nest bricks on a 1:1 ratio (245 in total) in clusters of 3 or 4. These self-contained boxes are used by different species including Swift, House Sparrow, and Starling.

Aylsham & District Wildlife Society’s donations have enabled us to provide copies of the children’s book “Super Swifts” to local schools and plan a funded nest box project. Norfolk County Library now has several copies of “Super Swifts” afterour purchase request. ASG has also received charity funds from the Aylsham Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival where we decorate a Swift-themed tree.

This year, we hope to go ahead with a project to install nest boxes on a community building where Swifts are nesting under pantiles. This will help to expand the colony. For Swift Awareness Week, we have been invited back to Aylsham Library where we display information on Swifts, a nest box, nest brick and soffit box, and Norfolk Wildlife Trust leaflets on insect-friendly gardening. We will continue to raise awareness of Swift conservation through local events, print and digital articles, radio interviews, walk-and-talk events, and social media.

When the last Swifts leave Aylsham in August, the skies are silent and our hearts ache for one last glimpse. Let’s make sure Swifts always have spaces in our buildings ready for their joyful return in spring!