Brent and Westminster Swifts Group

The Brent and Westminster Swifts Group is a local community conservation effort founded in Maida Vale in 2021 to protect one of London's most vulnerable summer visitors. Common swifts are red-listed endangered birds that return from Africa every spring to nest in the eaves and roof spaces of older buildings, but their populations have plummeted by over half in recent decades. As modern renovation and insulation seal up the tiny gaps and crevices these birds rely on, they often find their ancestral nesting sites permanently blocked when they return from their long migration. This group works to map these hidden colonies, advocate for the inclusion of specialized nest bricks in new construction, and raise awareness among residents who may be unknowingly hosting a protected species in their own rooflines. By lobbying planners and property owners, they ensure that the iconic, screaming flight of swifts through the London sky remains a part of the city's future.