Leeds Swifts July 2026 Newsletter
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
Greetings Swift lovers - and happy Swift Awareness Week!
We’re halfway through this year’s Swift season already and it’s proving to be a rather mixed bag for our birds this year.
After getting off to a record early start with Swifts arriving back from Africa sooner than ever before in April, the topsy turvy weather we’ve experienced since has been challenging for these intrepid birds.
See-saw unseasonal weather from hot in May to cold, wet and windy at the start of June and back again to the recent spell of extreme hot weather has been reflected in activity at our Gledhow colony and in our Swift Sanctuary as you can read about later.
The prolonged spell of very high temperatures has sadly resulted in an anticipated increase in chick casualties. If the young birds get too hot, they can easily become dehydrated, even if they are being fed regularly. They are then tempted to come to the edge of their nest site to find cooler temperatures or, if dehydrated they are prone to wandering. This can often lead to them falling out of nest holes. Our homes are often too well insulated these days which means nests sometimes lack natural ventilation to help keep them cool. This is a common reason why we get grounded or injured Swifts into our Sanctuary.
Nest boxes provide spacious accommodation and most of the young injured birds that come into the Sanctuary do so having fallen from nest sites under the eaves of roofs.
Swift action needed for injured birds
With continuing hot weather forecast, please do keep an eye out – and if you do find a grounded or injured Swift then please act quickly by following these steps:
· Find a shoe box.
· Add air holes to the lid.
· Line the box with an old towel and kitchen roll.
· DO NOT FEED.
· DO NOT GIVE WATER UNLESS ADVISED.
· Place the bird in the box and put in a dark, quiet room.
· Give Leeds Swifts a call on: 07942 919312.
· Or post asap on the Swift and Swallow SOS Facebook page which has been set up to support finders and coordinate rescues.
The appropriate action will be then be taken quickly to enable the bird to be taken to the nearest rehabber so it can get the care and attention it needs.
To find out more about what to do in an emergency please visit Leeds Swifts or our Leeds Swifts Facebook page.
The good news is that the warm and dry weather has helped to ensure a rich supply of insects which is vital food for Swifts, especially when they are feeding young. This is also excellent for the sexual development of birds and can mean that they breed successfully this year, rather than waiting until next year.
Swifts loyal to nest sites
It was interesting, though not overly surprising, to read in The Guardian recently about research carried out by the RSPB that found migrating Swifts to be loyal to their traditional nest sites. Experience gained by Martin monitoring Swift nest boxes in the Gledhow colony and from colleagues in the wider Local Swift Network would support this.
This behaviour was also observed by David Lack in his pioneering book, Swifts in a Tower, which was published in 1956. He stated that ‘many (Swifts) are clearly faithful to the nesting site’.
More recently ornithologist, James O’Neill has made important observations on Swift behaviour as part of his on-going study of Swifts in Ireland.
This is a timely reminder of the importance of providing these endangered birds with nest boxes or Swift bricks to ensure a supply of suitable nest sites. This is vital as more of our old houses undergo renovation and house builders and developers fail to install them.
We continue to lobby both the local council and developers to take swift and positive action to address this issue. While we still do not have progress on this, the recent publication of the latest consultation stage of the Leeds Local Plan provides a further opportunity to try to ensure that Swifts are not forgotten and that steps are taken to ensure they have a secure future in our city. Read on to find out how you can get involved.
News from Gledhow colony - by Martin Calvert
It’s the middle of the 2026 Swift season and at the time of writing it’s a lovely warm summer’s morning. There’s a gang of Swifts flying though the colony, approaching the nest boxes, occasionally clinging to the entrances, getting noisy reactions from the birds inside. These are the bangers or cling-ons (not to be confused with Star Trek aliens!) and are younger Swifts looking for homes for the future.
Flying through a colony, making sharp manoeuvres is a new skill for a younger Swift. They normally fly through open skies, at great speed, with no handbrake turns, so approaching a prospective nest space, using sharp turns and sudden braking needs to be practised.
It’s been a slightly strange season. Some birds arrived early, breaking previous records. Then there was a lull of a few weeks before the main body of breeding adults arrived. Then it was warm for a short while, followed by a period of unseasonal low temperatures and wind. This led to our Swifts donning their invisibility cloaks and led to many folk reporting that their Swifts had disappeared. In cold weather, they don’t have surplus energy to display exuberantly so they keep a low profile, only returning quietly at night after a day’s foraging. They mainly still managed to incubate their eggs through most of the 20 day incubation period.
Now we’re in a spell of hot weather which is fabulous for hunting insects and feeding chicks, but can be very dangerous for Swifts in small nest spaces subject to the heat of the sun. Swifts in nest boxes are usually ok, though the discomfort of both chicks and adults is very noticeable on our cameras.
The Gledhow colony is having a good year so far, with birds seen using around 45 nest boxes. This probably translates to around 42 pairs in the colony.
As a rough rule, there’s usually the same numbers of chicks as adults, so whilst touching wood, we’re hoping that around 80 chicks will fledge from the colony this year. The average number of chicks per pair is around 2.3, so allowing for a few non breeding pairs, gives the one to one chick to adult figure.
We’ve also had reports of Swifts occupying various new sites around Leeds. This is very gratifying and exactly what we love to hear. This is especially welcome after working hard to put up lots of boxes over the close season.
Keep up to date on all the happenings in the Gledhow colony by following us on https://www.facebook.com/LeedsSwifts?locale=en_GB
Swift Sanctuary - it's all systems go!
It's definitely all systems go in our Swift Sanctuary.
As we mentioned earlier, emergency calls about grounded Swifts started much sooner than expected. The first call came in from Woodlesford on 28 April while Linda was taking her pre-Swift break!
Since then there’s been a slow increase in calls and injured or grounded birds being admitted into the Sanctuary from across West, South and North Yorkshire. This has been prompted by the recent heatwave as young birds seek cooler air or suffer the effects of dehydration and fall out of their nests.
It’s also been an unusual start to season, mainly due to the fluctuating nature of the late spring and early summer weather. As a result, Linda has more young chicks in the Sanctuary than ever before because of the early heatwaves we’ve experienced.
Usually chicks will be brought into the Sanctuary at around 25 days old but at the moment tiny chicks of between just three and five days old are being brought in. This brings different care challenges as these very young birds find it hard to regulate their body heat but they are proving to be very resilient and respond well to the specialist care they receive in the Sanctuary.
This is a trend that is being reported by rehabbers across the country. Fortunately these tiny birds are not underweight, just suffering the effects of hot weather. However, with more hot weather being forecast, Linda and her team of amazing helpers are bracing themselves for more casualties in the coming days and weeks.
The extreme temperatures have created challenging conditions in the Sanctuary too with Linda battling to keep temperatures below 30 degrees, even in her north facing room, and the birds hydrated. At one point, ice packs were applied to the outside of the nest baskets to try and keep the youngsters cool as the mercury continued to rise.
At the time of writing, the latest tally in the Sanctuary is: two House Martins, two Swallows and 13 Swifts.
Thanks so much to our amazing Swift Sanctuary Support Team of volunteers which has responded so quickly to emergency calls to collect injured or grounded birds. Being able to respond quickly to these calls and having a willing team of volunteers to help Linda manage the demands of the Sanctuary at peak times is a massive help. It means that Linda can more readily concentrate on delivering her expert care.
Keep up to date with all the happenings in the Sanctuary on our Leeds Swifts Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/LeedsSwifts?locale=en_GB
Swift Awareness Week (27 June-5 July)
Swift Watch evenings – last few spaces still available until 9 July!
Join us for an evening of Swift entertainment at our showcase Gledhow colony.
Every year during Swift Awareness Week we kick-off a fortnight of Swift Watch events (from 7.30pm until dusk) to watch these amazing birds fly in and around their nest boxes.
Martin has installed 30 nest boxes at his Gledhow home which are currently the summer residences for 18 pairs of Swifts, 16 of which have attempted breeding.
Weather permitting, these events are a perfect way to enjoy a relaxing summer evening watching busy Swift parents visiting their nest boxes to feed their chicks, as well as be entertained by screaming parties of joyful Swifts flying at breakneck speed around the nearby houses.
It’s unbelievable that Swifts only ever land when they are nesting. Martin has installed cameras in the nest boxes so there’s a rare opportunity to observe these amazing birds at first hand and gain a rare insight into their mysterious life.
Please book asap to secure your seat or a place on our waiting list if your preferred evening is currently booked via Leeds.swifts@gmail.com.
All the sessions are free but we do ask for a 'pay as you feel' donation to Leeds Swifts on the night or via our GoFundMe page.
Have your say
Leeds City Council has recently launched the next phase of its consultation on the Leeds Local Plan.
At this stage, the Council is asking for views on the proposed scope of the Local Plan and how people would like to be involved in future consultations. It is not consulting on specific sites, detailed policy or proposed site allocations, which will come in the next phase of the consultation due to take place in Winter 2026/27.
However, this is a potential further opportunity to try to make sure that Swifts are not forgotten in future plans for the city.
This scoping phase of the consultation is open until Wednesday 5 August.
You can view the consultation material and make comments online at: https://leedslocalplan.commonplace.is
Come and see us!
We’ll be at the Gledhow Valley Green Fair on Sunday 12 July (11am-4pm). Please do come along and chat to us, we’d love to see you!
And do let us know if you have any upcoming events during the rest of the year that you think would be a good opportunity for Leeds Swifts.
Get in touch by emailing us at: leeds.swifts@gmail.com
Sir Brian May takes centre stage on World Swift Day
On World Swift Day (7 June), Sir Brian May of rock band Queen fame lent his support to raising awareness about the plight of Swifts and highlighted ways to help protect them from further serious year-on-year decline.
Listen to his message here.
There’s also still time to sign the petition started by Banstead Swifts, launched on the same day, to help stop and reverse the decline of UK Swifts and other endangered species by focussing on the huge impact wildlife crime. Recent events has highlighted that wildlife crimes continue on a grand scale across the country with little or no consequence for those committing them but with massive consequences for affected wildlife. Please give your support here.
Top marks for Swifts
We reported in our last newsletter about the impressive nest box building that students (pictured right) at Horsforth School Sixth Form, led by staff member and Leeds Swifts supporter Charlene Thomas, had undertaken.
The finished boxes were then installed along with calling systems by Martin and Jan.
We’re pleased to report that Swifts are already taking an interest with ‘screaming’ parties ‘banging’ at the boxes.
We’re all keeping fingers crossed that Swifts will take up residence here and breed next year.
And news just in - a tombola held by the school raised £140 for Leeds Swifts. Thank you!
Another Swift Street takes flight
An impressive 22 Swift nest boxes have now been installed in our latest Swift Street – Morritt Avenue, Crossgates (pictured left & right).
These boxes, along with call systems, were generously funded by the RSPB
Leeds Local Group and
were then installed by BT Openreach as part of this initiative.
Activity like this forms an essential part of our wider Swift conservation efforts.
Our amazing Helen Lucy is leading our work in Crossgates with the aim of helping to expand and support
the existing Swift colonies.
Donations provide a vital lifeline
Thank you to everyone who has donated funds to help keep our Swift Sanctuary open and support our wider Swift conservation work. We really could not do what we do without your amazing support.
A special thanks to the amazing efforts of Leeds Swift supporter, Mark James Pearson, (pictured left) who not only ran the East Yorks half marathon in super swift time, but in doing so raised a fantastic £3,210 for Leeds Swifts.
Thanks so much to Mark for choosing Leeds Swifts to benefit from his marathon efforts and for everyone who donated. Champion stuff.
For those of you not tempted to get out the running shoes and clock up the mileage to support our Swift Sanctuary, you’ll be pleased to know that there are much less strenuous ways to donate.
You can donate via our Leeds Swifts GoFundMe page (which we’re carrying on from the last two years of fund-raising). We’ve raised nearly £800 so far this year, so a huge thank you to everyone who has given their support, it’s very much appreciated.
Anything you can give to help us meet our target for this year (£1,500) would be really appreciated. We raised over £2,000 last year which helped us provide a new incubator for the Sanctuary which would not have been possible without your help, and it’s proved its worth by being a real life saver. You can also sign up to Easyfundraising.com and turn your online purchases into cash for us, just by shopping normally, at no extra cost to you. Over 8,000 online retailers participate in this scheme including big brands such as Just Eat, Boots, Booking.com, Morrisons, Amazon, Ebay, M&S, John Lewis etc. All you need to do is sign up, choose Leeds Swifts as your charity and start shopping via the Easyfundraising website. The retailer you shop with will send us a free donation based on how much you spend. It's amazing how quickly those small amounts build up. Every penny raised goes towards helping our endangered Swifts.
Enjoy the rest of summer – and those amazing Swifts!
Visit the Leeds Swifts web page for more information
Find us on social media @LeedsSwiftsFacebook/LeedsSwifts
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