What they like

High living, fast flying. Old buildings, church towers, bridges. A clear approach route and a gap under the eaves. Nearby: water, parks, rough grass and flower-rich edges buzzing with small insects. Do: hang swift boxes under the eaves (preferably north/east), at least 5 metres high. Keep the façade calm: no bright work lights near nesting spots. Renovation planned? Provide nest bricks or preserve crevices.

Ecological importance

The common swift is a flying insect-eater. Eats mosquitoes, flies, aphids — anything small and airborne. Fewer insects = fewer swifts. Simple. Do: make the landscape rich in insects. Sow and plant native species: oxeye daisy, knapweed, bird’s-foot trefoil, red clover, yarrow, cow parsley. Leave areas of grass longer, mow in phases.

When in the Netherlands

Mid April/May to late July/August. Then gone: wintering in Africa.

Status

Breeding bird. Numbers have been declining for years, mainly due to loss of nesting sites and fewer insects.