How Swift bricks can help save Swifts in Scotland

World Swift Day on 7 June is an annual global celebration of swifts including the incredible migratory species that breeds in the UK. These aerial acrobats return to Scotland each summer from Africa to breed. It’s the only time of year they land, the rest of the time they eat, sleep and even mate on the wing.

For now, Swifts are back swooping, screeching and swirling in our skies. But they’re in trouble. Their numbers have declined by 66% in the UK, and in Scotland they could disappear from our skies altogether. They need our help, fast.

While the causes of the decline of Swifts are not completely known, there is evidence that the reduced availability of nesting sites has had a serious impact. Swifts often return to the same places to nest each year, often in nooks and cavities in buildings. But these precious places are being lost – through demolition, redevelopment and a lack of nesting opportunities in new builds.

Thankfully there is a solution; that’s where Swift bricks come in.

Swift bricks, also known as Swift nesting bricks, are hollow bricks that are designed to be discretely built directly into walls, even when buildings are not made of bricks. They provide durable, safe places for Swifts and other cavity-nesting birds such as House Sparrows, Starlings and House Martins to nest, addressing the loss of nest sites from modern architecture.

The bricks, which cost roughly £30 each, are a simple, cheap and effective way to provide a much-needed lifeline to one of our most threatened species.

Earlier this year, Scotland made history by becoming the first UK country to enshrine Swift bricks in law. The Natural Environment Act 2026 gave the Scottish Government new powers to require nesting bricks to be included in certain new buildings. This was an incredibly important step that could help reverse the serious declines of Swifts in Scotland.

However, the Scottish Government is yet to use these new powers. The first step is to bring forward a consultation on Swift bricks. There is no committed timeline for this, so we need to make sure it stays on the government radar. That’s where we need your help.

You can make a huge difference for Swifts in Scotland. Meet with your MSP and ask them to call for a consultation on Swift bricks in the Scottish Parliament. We’ve made a handy template to email your MSPs here: Meet with your MSP for nature | RSPB.

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