Today it’s hard to walk past a young swift that has fallen from its nest without noticing. The main reason these birds drop out is that intense heat makes the nest environment unbearable. SEO/BirdLife offers practical tips for anyone who finds a swift on the ground.
Sadly this problem is likely to become more common. Climate change is bringing more frequent and severe heat events, and home remodeling displaces many reptiles and shifts nesting sites to places more exposed to heat.
When a swift lands on the ground it faces a grim fate unless help is quick. The first step is to get the bird to a recovery center staffed by professionals. If that is not possible, a careful, gentle temporary intervention can be tried, but swifts require very special care and attention. The goal is to give the fledgling the best chance to recover and eventually fly freely again.
Getting Started: Collecting and Assessing a Swift
- Handle the bird calmly, quickly, and firmly. Do not squeeze or trap it; keep your hand steady so the swift cannot struggle or damage itself. The bird will cling with its claws, but it will not hurt you.
- Make sure you have a healthy young swift, not an injured adult. Adults may appear dazed after a collision with another bird near the nest. To test whether the bird can fly, hold it at face level in an open space and gently release it. A healthy fledgling will take immediate flight; an injured adult may attempt a clumsy flight, and a young bird may cling to your hand in an emergency. Never throw the bird to test its ability or drop it from a height above your face.
If the swift has a severe injury such as a broken wing, it is unlikely to recover without professional care, so it should be evaluated at a rescue center.
- Keep the swift in a small, vented container such as a shoe box with a hole punched in the cap, and place absorbent paper inside.
- Take it to a Recovery Center.
Things to NEVER Do
- Even in hot weather, never dampen the swift to cool it off. Wetting the bird can cause serious harm very quickly.
- Do not attempt to wet or insert liquids through the beak. If water enters the nostrils, the swift can suffer pneumonia and die.
- Do not feed the bird with whatever is handy. Swifts can go without food for extended periods, and inappropriate feeding can cause harm.
Food: Insects Only
A quick Internet search might show many questionable options, from sweets to meat scraps. In reality, a swift’s diet should be exclusively insects.
Proper growth depends on high-quality insect food. A swift that is fed well will remain in flight-ready condition for months after release.
Staple options include live mealworms (tenebrio larvae) and crickets (Acheta domesticus). These can be purchased from pet stores, online retailers, or fishing supply shops.
Honey worms can be offered as a treat or to encourage feeding, but they should be provided sparingly.
All insects must be alive at feeding time and kept alive until the bird has fully accepted the diet. Store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator to slow their development.
Place the live insects in a small dish with a shallow amount of water so they can drink; there is usually no need to keep a separate water source for the swift.
How Much and How Often to Feed
Once there is enough food, feeding frequency depends on age. Younger swiftlets may need food every hour, while older juveniles can go a bit longer. As hunger signals increase, meals can become more frequent.
If the bird shows clear hunger, offer a honey worm right next to its beak. Typically one feeding per day is sufficient, but adjust to the bird’s needs.
If force-feeding is necessary, immobilize the swift gently with a soft wrap and use round-tipped tweezers to open the beak. Progress slowly and carefully to avoid injury. It is recommended to consult a PDF reproduction protocol from a reputable source such as web falciotnegre for detailed visuals and age estimates.
Daily weight checks are important. Recording the bird’s weight helps track its progress. Some days it may gain weight steadily, while others may not. The goal is gradual growth that leads toward release readiness.
When small, the swift can live in a roomy shoebox; as wings grow, a larger space is needed to allow full extension and wing-strengthening movements as part of conditioning for flight. A quiet room with a ventilated enclosure works well.
Never encourage the swift to take flight indoors for practice. A controlled, outdoor release is safer and more natural for the bird.
Moment of Release
Knowing when the swift is ready to fly again is often the hardest part. The bird will indicate readiness by eager, confident attempts to take off. Look for fully developed wing feathers and the absence of tail-down fluff at the base of the wings.
Choose a day with rain in the forecast within the next 24 hours and release in a clear area with ample open space and minimal vegetation. A flat or slightly sloping location is ideal so recovery is easy if something goes wrong. When ready, gently release the bird and let it go without delay. Do not shout or wave the bird away.
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Environment department contact:(citation forthcoming) (Attribution: SEO/BirdLife guidelines)