British man concerned about swifts’ nests in Kaunas apartment building: “I hope they will be preserved”

A British man living in Kaunas has raised concerns about the fate of swifts nesting in the cavities of an old apartment building, fearing their nests may be destroyed during renovation works, LRT.lt reports.

The man, who contacted LRT GIRDI, said he frequently observes swifts flying around the buildings in his neighbourhood, using holes in the upper floors as nesting sites. “I constantly see swifts flying around the apartment buildings in my area. It’s a wonderful, noisy sight. I noticed that the birds use the holes in the upper floors of the buildings—they fly in and out. I assume these are their nesting sites,” he wrote.

He expressed concern that as older buildings undergo renovation, the holes used by the birds are being sealed. “I would like to believe that measures are in place to preserve or replace these nesting sites during renovation, but I am not sure,” he said.

Gintaras Riauba, a biologist and expert from the Lithuanian Ornithological Society, confirmed that this is a well-known issue. Ornithologists have long warned that renovations can destroy swift nests, particularly if work takes place during the breeding season, risking the loss of eggs or chicks.

Swifts often nest in high-rise buildings, favouring gaps under roofs and niches in attics, Riauba explained. He noted that the species, originally adapted to mountainous regions with cliffs and crevices, now thrives almost exclusively in urban and rural settlements due to the lack of suitable natural nesting sites.

Riauba highlighted the ecological benefits of swifts, which spend most of their lives in flight. After leaving the nest, young swifts may fly continuously for up to three years without landing. They primarily feed on flying insects, including flies, mosquitoes, and even wasps, thus reducing the number of pests. “They don’t leave any waste, don’t nest on buildings in a messy way. In short, swifts cause no problems for humans—in fact, they are an inseparable part of the city, a true urban bird worth admiring,” he said.

Although swifts are not listed in Lithuania’s Red Book, they are protected under the EU Birds Directive. Riauba welcomed changing attitudes and legal measures to safeguard the species, noting that dedicated swift nest boxes are already being installed in some Lithuanian locations. The birds sometimes also use stork nests, particularly in rural and suburban areas.

Viktorija Dačinskaitė, a representative of the Ministry of Environment, told LRT GIRDI that protecting swifts and other nesting birds in buildings is a priority. She confirmed that new regulations will take effect in September, making it mandatory to install new nests for swifts during renovations.