What to do with a grounded swift - ONSLOW VILLAGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

The dos and don’ts if you find a grounded swift

* DO NOT *

Do not throw the swift up into the air, it can cause injury.
Do not put it in a bush. Swifts spend their life on the wing, they cannot perch and are extremely vulnerable to predators. If found on the ground it means they are in trouble. They may be exhausted and dehydrated from their migration flight, injured or unwell, or a young fledgling leaving the nest too early and not strong enough yet to fly.
A grounded Swift is an emergency! But do not take it to a vet, unless they specialise in swifts. Most vets are not trained to care for swifts, instead get the Swift ASAP to a Swift expert, called a ‘Swift Rehab Carer’.
Do not take home and try to feed yourself, they do not eat worms, meal worms, or bird seed etc. swifts feed on the wing and feed only on airborne insects, a specialist is needed.

* DO *

Pick up the swift gently and cup in your hand. Even if it tries to fly, it will need checking. Do not allow it to fly as the chances are it will crash land again and injure itself.
Place the swift in a shoe box with air holes and carefully close the lid. The air holes should be punched through from the inside. Lay the swift on a towel, tea towel, or kitchen towel, making a nest shape for the bird so it feels secure and warm.
Often the Swift is in shock, so a bit of warmth helps be that a heat pad or tiny covered hot water bottle. However, the box itself must be kept somewhere cool, peaceful and out of the way of pets. There needs to be space in the box for the bird to move off the heat source if it wants too.
If you have the swift for a few hours while waiting for help from Swift Rehab Carer, offer the swift a tiny drop of water from a soaked cotton wool ball. Hold the wool close to the end of its beak and it will take the water if it wants any. Keep away from the birds nostrils otherwise it could drown.
Contact in first instance your local ‘Swift Collector/Adviser’. This person will give you further advice and will find a rehab specialist for you locally and transport the bird for you if needed.
If an advisor is not available, you can contact your local swift rehab carer directly. See details below.