We would like to congratulate Julie Barrell, who started this Senedd petition and everyone who got behind it. This debate was a huge opportunity to help make a real difference to our Swifts – one of our most loved and fastest declining birds.  Raising the subject for discussion was a huge achievement and so it was painful to see how ill-informed and under-prepared some of the Senedd members were for this debate.

Swifts face a number of threats which must be addressed. One of those is a lack of suitable nest sites. Installing Swift bricks on new buildings is literally the simplest and cheapest measure we can take to provide new nest sites. The debate was inconclusive, kicking the can down the road. None of this helped Swifts or the future generations of Wales, who may never regularly hear the true sound of summer.

The Welsh Ornithological Society fully supports any future legislative actions that can ensure that existing buildings remain suitable Swift nesting habitat and new buildings incorporate Swift bricks. Action is needed now. Please join us in continuing to keep this issue live and ensure Swifts have a safe place to breed in Wales.