A great season for Swifts

This year has seen a remarkable increase in nesting activity by Swifts in Lewes – a great endorsement of Lewes Swift Supporters’ work to install more than 200 new Swift nest boxes around town. But with Swift numbers more than 60% lower than they were 20 years ago, there’s still lots more work to be done to help these amazing but highly endangered birds, as Audrey Jarvis of Lewes Swift Supporters reports.

Lewes Swift Supporters had a great Swift season this year! We recorded 107 different places where Swifts have been seen entering or leaving the nest – a remarkable increase compared to the previous record of 84 nest entrances in 2024. Although some of the recorded nest entries may have been by Swifts prospecting for nests next year, rather than breeding this year, it is a very positive result. Unfortunately, the number of Swifts remains about 62% lower than it was 20 years ago, so there is still work to be done.

Nest spaces

One factor in the decline of Swift numbers is the lack of nest spaces, due to older buildings being refurbished or demolished. To improve potential breeding accommodation, Lewes Swift Supporters have installed 201 Swift nest boxes in Lewes so far. Since Swifts prefer to nest in colonies, many of these are near to known existing nest places. This encourages younger birds, who are returning to Lewes and prospecting for nests, to be able to find them more easily.

Swifts often take some time to become accustomed to using nest boxes, but this year at least 12 of them have been occupied and several others were ‘banged’ by prospecting Swifts. Banging against a nest space with their wings is something that two-year-old Swifts do to check whether there are any other Swifts already inside. If the nest box is not taken – they may come back next year and go straight to it!

Swift Friendly Town

Swifts live in the air – feeding, drinking, mating, and sleeping in the skies above us. They depend on airborne insects and invertebrates such as spiderlings, aphids, and flying ants for their food. Because the insect population has fallen by an estimated 78% since 2004, this is another challenge for Swifts. Lewes Swift Supporters were very pleased with the fantastic response to their ‘Swift-friendly Town for Nature Recovery’ season at Lewes Climate Hub in April and May, where 400 visitors were encouraged to take actions to improve biodiversity for Swifts and other wildlife.

One of the recent projects that benefits our Swift-friendly Town is the Cockshut Regeneration Project. The wetlands and surrounding environment created to the south of Lewes by this project have proved to be an excellent feeding ground for Swifts and other birds. They have provided wonderful experiences, such as the sight of more than 40 Swifts flying low over enchanted visitors to catch insects and have a drink.

Lewes Swift Supporters AGM

Peter King, of the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, will be giving a presentation about the Cockshut Regeneration Project at the Lewes Swift Supporters AGM at the Linklater Pavilion on 14th October. If you are not a member of LSS, but would like to come along, just contact Membership is free!

You can also contact if you are interested in having a Swift nest box installed on your property – ready for when the birds make their return to the UK next Spring.