1921-Onwards, Swift Screaming Parties, UK

This dataset contains reports of common swifts (Apus apus) flying at rooftop level, calling with their characteristic screaming sound. This behaviour indicates that swifts are probably nesting nearby.

It includes records collected as part of various swift mapping projects including The Swift Inventory, The Swift Survey and The Swift Mapper. The aim of these projects was to better understand the reasons for the decline in swifts in the UK, and to help target conservation of swift nest sites. They collated data from a variety of sources, primarily a public request for information and local surveys.

Between 2009-2015, records were collected as part of the ‘Swift Inventory’. This was a cooperative project involving the support of Concern for Swifts - Scotland, London's Swifts, Northern Ireland Swifts, the RSPB, Swift Conservation and UK Swifts.

The ‘Swift Survey’ then ran from 2016 -2019. This was a national survey, including a website developed by Environmental Resource Management (ERM) to collect data from the public on nesting swifts.

From 2020 onwards the ‘Swift Mapper’ tool has been used to collect records. The Swift Mapper is a mapping tool involving RSPB, Natural Apptitude, Swift Conservation, Action for Swifts and Swifts Local Network.

Records prior to 2009 were provided by swift conservation groups and RSPB surveys.

Accompanying datasets of swift nest sites, nest boxes and previously occupied nests are also available on the NBN.

This dataset will be updated annually.