BRITAIN — Scotland enacted legislation in 2025 making the installation of swift bricks a legal requirement in new buildings. This development follows a 70% decline in the swift population in Britain since 1995, with the loss of nesting sites identified as a contributing factor.

Swifts are currently on the red list of conservation concern. A single swift brick costs £35. RSPB scientists conducted a 15-year study on 190 swifts from 243 nests in a Dartmoor village, specifically in nest boxes located in Drewsteignton, Devon.

The study, which identified breeding swifts using uniquely numbered leg rings, revealed that 94% of the swifts reused the same nesting site as the previous year. Additionally, 59% of the surveyed swifts paired with the same partner from the previous year. Malcolm Burgess, principal conservation scientist for the RSPB, commented on these findings.

"We've anecdotally thought for a long time that swifts are loyal, returning to the same nesting sites and partners each spring," Burgess said. "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."

Burgess also stated, "The decline in swift numbers is a great cause for concern and without increasing the availability of nest sites, and replacing those that are being lost, we will see further declines of this extraordinary bird in our towns and cities." The study was published before UK Swift Awareness Week, an event coordinated by Nick Brown.

Brown indicated that one factor critical to the birds' breeding success this year is the potential impact of a hot spell on chicks within nests. He also observed increasing public engagement. "The numbers of swift groups and events keeps growing," Brown said. He added, "The interest and enthusiasm and care for swifts is growing exponentially."

A swift found on the ground typically requires assistance to become airborne again. Local swift groups have volunteers dedicated to caring for rescued swiftlets.

Why It Matters

The new Scottish legal requirement for swift bricks in new construction addresses the decline in the swift population in Britain and aims to counteract the ongoing loss of nesting sites. The RSPB study provides scientific evidence of swifts' strong loyalty to their nesting locations, reinforcing the importance of site protection and provision for the species' survival. Increased public involvement, as noted by the coordinator of Swift Awareness Week, indicates a growing community effort to support swift conservation.

The £35 cost of a swift brick represents a specific measure to implement these protective actions within new building developments. Efforts to increase available nest sites are intended to help prevent further population declines for a species already classified on the red list of conservation concern.