Swifts are amazing, they spend most of their life in the air even eating and sleeping ‘on the wing’ only touching down to nest. They cover thousands of miles on their migratory journey and are the soundtrack to the summer with their scream-like calls.
But swifts are in danger, their populations have noted significant decline in the past thirty years – often the result of lack of nesting places and food.
But our community are not giving up hope.
Save Our Suffolk Swifts (SOS Swifts) is a collaboration between Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Ipswich Bird Group and works across the county to bring back our swifts.
Inspired by our Nature’s Day in September 2025, member Donald Mobley’s donation has funded 25 swift nest boxes for SOS Swifts made by volunteers at Street Forge Workshop (a social enterprise where adults with disabilities produce wildlife products with natural resources).
One of the main causes thought to impact swift populations being limited nesting sites. This is often due to old buildings being demolished or filled in, meaning locations where swifts once regularly visited are no longer suitable for them.
12 of the 25 nest boxes have been delivered to Langer Primary Academy in Felixstowe along will a call system by Chris Keeling, one of our Volunteer Swift Advisers. Each nest box cluster requires a call system (often a recording put on a timer) to help attract the swifts to the location. By installing nestboxes at the school students and teachers are doing their part to help swift numbers recover and experience these amazing birds when they hopefully make use of the boxes in the future.
Chris and the other SOS Swift Volunteers will be looking to engage further with schools and share the joy of swifts with more students around Suffolk inspiring children about the natural world and the environment and ensure swifts are protected in the future!
This story shows how everyone can have a role in bringing back and protecting nature across Suffolk. Volunteers, members, schools and all working together as a community – thank you to everyone involved!
