Swifts Nest for First Time in Cambridge College Boxes to Aid Decline

Swifts, endangered birds in the UK, have nested for the first time in boxes at Cambridge's Darwin College, part of efforts to reverse a 70% population decline since 1995.

Swift Populations Declining in the UK

The first swifts have successfully nested in boxes installed at a University of Cambridge college, which aims to help address the decline of these birds and the shortage of natural nesting sites.

Swifts are endangered and were added to the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK in 2021. According to the RSPB, their numbers have dropped by 70% between 1995 and 2024.

Swift Boxes at Cambridge University

While several university sites in Cambridge have swift boxes, Darwin College only added them three years ago.

"We have actually got birds nesting in one of our boxes for the first time this year so we will watch this space with great excitement,"

said Mike Rands, the master of Darwin College.

Rands has played a central role in the university’s efforts to encourage swift colonies in Cambridge. He is the founding director of the University of Cambridge's Cambridge Conservation Initiative at the David Attenborough Building and the former chief executive of BirdLife International.

Mike Rands helped install the new swift boxes at the David Attenborough Building back in 2020

Dr Mike Rands is smiling at the camera standing in front of two wooden bird nesting boxes. He has greying hair and facial hair and is wearing a striped shirt. — Image caption, Mike Rands helped install the new swift boxes at the David Attenborough Building back in 2020

Swift Characteristics and Migration

Swifts, identifiable by their short-forked tails and very long swept-back wings, migrate from Africa to the UK each spring to breed.

Despite their impressive speeds of up to 69 mph (111 km/h), the average population of swifts in the UK has declined significantly.

Ad (970x250)

Ad (425x293)

Swift boxes are placed high up on the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge

Swift boxes are placed high up on a modern building silhouetted against a grey sky. Birds can be seen flying above. — Image caption, Swift boxes are placed high up on the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge

Swift boxes were installed at Darwin College about three years ago

Two wooden nesting boxes are fixed to a brick wall on an old building. — Image caption, Swift boxes were installed at Darwin College about three years ago

University Efforts to Support Swifts

"One of the things the university is doing to try to help recover the swift population is to put nest boxes on buildings around the university to compensate for the fact that natural nest sites have disappeared as a result of new modern buildings,"

Rands explained.

Swift boxes were first placed on the tower of the David Attenborough Building in 2020. The first pair of swifts nested there and raised two chicks in 2021.

The building now has 20 swift nest boxes containing 24 nesting chambers and recently added a live camera feed, allowing people to observe some of the nests.

Several other college buildings also have swift boxes. At the North-West Cambridge development in Eddington, more than 200 bird boxes have been installed, including several for swifts.

"It is fantastic to see them back here now, above Darwin College.

I'm particularly pleased this year, because three years ago we put some nest boxes up and we are playing tapes of the calls, which we know attracts the birds in, but it usually takes a year or two for them to establish a colony."