Conversations in Swaledale anecdotally suggest that there has been a decline in the numbers of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins seen in recent years. (If true, this follows a national trend). However, when the ‘Wing It’ team looked for information on populations in the two dales, very little could be found…

The ‘Wing It” project was therefore set up in 2021 with four objectives:

  1. To collect data throughout the summer months to identify & document birds in flight and active nest sites over a five-year period. These data help inform our project but also contribute to the wider Yorkshire Dales National Park records and national statistics.
  2. To support the three species by providing suitable nesting sites and installing boxes.
  3. To raise awareness & knowledge of the three species & their needs within the two dales through events and by providing information.
  4. To maintain feeding habitats for the three species, through parallel projects in meadow restoration & tree planting (see Sustainable Swaledale’s other projects, Meadow Magic and Together for Trees).

Why has there been a decline in Swifts, Swallows and House Martins?

There are a number of reasons for the national population decline. 

  1. Loss of nesting sites. As houses and barns are renovated, old nest sites are lost and potential for new sites is reduced.
  2. Loss of food supply. All of these species feed on airborne insects that hatch and fly over uncut or grazed meadows, woodlands and bodies of water. As these habitats decline in abundance, available forage also declines.
  3. Changes to weather patterns. To build nests, these species need mud, therefore when there is less than average rainfall or dry conditions in spring when they are building nests this compromises their ability to breed.
  4. Climatic condition changes. These affect winter grounds and migration routes. Research shows that if birds arrive in Britain in poor condition in spring their ability to breed is compromised.

What has the Wing It project done?

Part funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund, we have achieved the following:

  1. Installed nearly 50 nest boxes and opened up barns for nesting.
  2. Published an information booklet on Swifts, Swallows and House Martins, and a building renovations guide to help people renovate sympathetically for birds.

To access our building renovation guide, please click here. 

  1. Collected information on bird nest locations and behaviour over a multi year period, using a team of 20 volunteers. The results of the data collection so far have been presented in this report.

To enter swift, swallow or martin sightings on our interactive form please click here.

  1. Installed 7 QR codes at prominent locations across Swaledale and Arkengarthdale to raise awareness of the plight of these birds.
  2. Installed two live feed nest cameras on swallow nests for the public to enjoy.

To access our live swallow nest cams, please click hereb

How can you help?

  1. Contact us about getting involved in the project by sending an email to info@sustainableswaledale.org.
  2. Record your sightings of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale and submit it to the Wing It project using the form above.
  3. Create a mud patch and keep it watered in dry weather to provide materials for them to build their nests.
  4. Put up a swift swallow or martin nest box or leave your barn door open so birds can fly in and nest.
  5. Leave areas of your garden to grow and flower providing areas for insects to feed.
  6. Get involved with our Meadow Magic project, and leave areas of your meadows uncut until the end of the season.
  7. Get involved with our Together for Trees project to create areas of new woodland. Avoid felling mature trees which provide food for insects and therefore birds.

In the future

Although funding from the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s Sustainable Development Fund came to an end in early 2025, we will continue to collect data in current and future years to monitor trends of the birds using our Dales. 

At the start of 2025, the Yorkshire Dales National Park launched a new project, “Building Homes for Dales House Birds,” which includes some of the species we have targeted in the Wing It Project. We hope to engage with this project to continue the Wing It legacy into the future.