Protecting the Aerial Masters of Our Skies
Each spring and summer, the skies over Sussex fill with the spectacular flight of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins. These birds spend most of their lives on the wing, travelling thousands of miles to return to our towns and countryside each year. But despite their mastery of the air, their future here is under threat.
Swifts and Hirundines rely on safe nesting sites in our homes, buildings and natural landscapes. As these opportunities disappear and populations decline — particularly the red-listed House Martin — local conservation action has never been more important.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to safeguarding the future of Sussex’s Swifts and Hirundines by:
- Protecting and creating nesting habitat across urban and rural areas.
- Supporting conservation projects and community-led initiatives across the county.
- Providing practical guidance for homeowners, planners and volunteers.
- Raising awareness of these extraordinary species and the challenges they face.
How You Can Help
Whether you’re a homeowner looking to install nest boxes, a community group ready to monitor a colony, we can help. Contact our Swift Champion Dave Boddington at swifts@sos.org.uk, or Hirundine Champion Paul Stevens at hirundines@sos.org.uk for advice.
You could also join the 2026 House Martin survey – look out for the details coming in late March 2026.
Together, we can keep Sussex’s skies alive with the Swift’s scream and the Hirundines’ effortless flight.
Lewes Swift Supporters event – 9th May22nd April 2026The 9th of May is “Welcome Back to the Swifts Day”
Help to make people aware of our precious returning Swifts by meeting Lewes Swift Supporters at the Linklater Pavilion on the Railway Land for a pavement parade to Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street, BN72LU. If you can bring a placard to celebrate Swifts! Start time is 10.30am.
From 11.00 to 3.00 enjoy refreshments and browse our leaflets and maps that show you where to look for Swifts in Lewes.
Sign up to Lewes Swift Watch to contribute your sightings.
1.30 p.m. Swift expert Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation joins us for one of his wonderful illustrated talks about Swifts. Ticket £5 via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982966315630?aff=oddtdtcreator
2026 Sussex House Martin Survey – James Aldridge12th April 2026With House Martins back in Sussex for the summer, the 2026 Sussex House Martin survey is now up and running.
The website at https://soshousemartins.birdsurvey.org.uk/ shows the available 1km survey squares and allows surveyors to sign up when clicking on a square. As well as being an opportunity to observe the nesting behaviour of these white-rumped hirundines, the survey will help track the trends of our Sussex House Martins, and see if particular types of nest sites are favoured.
We hope this can inform future conservation, as well as provide some enjoyable birding from late May to July.
House Martin – Simon Linington
The 9th of May is “Welcome Back to the Swifts Day”
Help to make people aware of our precious returning Swifts by meeting Lewes Swift Supporters at the Linklater Pavilion on the Railway Land for a pavement parade to Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street, BN72LU. If you can bring a placard to celebrate Swifts! Start time is 10.30am.
From 11.00 to 3.00 enjoy refreshments and browse our leaflets and maps that show you where to look for Swifts in Lewes.
Sign up to Lewes Swift Watch to contribute your sightings.
1.30 p.m. Swift expert Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation joins us for one of his wonderful illustrated talks about Swifts. Ticket £5 via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982966315630?aff=oddtdtcreator
With House Martins back in Sussex for the summer, the 2026 Sussex House Martin survey is now up and running.
The website at https://soshousemartins.birdsurvey.org.uk/ shows the available 1km survey squares and allows surveyors to sign up when clicking on a square. As well as being an opportunity to observe the nesting behaviour of these white-rumped hirundines, the survey will help track the trends of our Sussex House Martins, and see if particular types of nest sites are favoured.
We hope this can inform future conservation, as well as provide some enjoyable birding from late May to July.
House Martin – Simon Linington
