Occasionally, a baby swift or adult may end up grounded. Here is what to do if you find one on the ground in distress.
Firstly, remember that swifts can’t take off from the ground!
Don’t try to feed it with any food or water. It can survive without food for several days if it needs to.
Don’t throw it up into the air or try to “launch” it from a high window, or near the canal.
If it’s an adult, it will be pretty much solid dark brown in colour. If it looks otherwise ok, with no blood around its face or broken feathers, you can pick it up and put it into a small box, and take it to a large open space like The Green. Place it in the cup of your hand, and raise your hand above your head height. It will fly off if it’s fit. Don’t “launch” it – let it decide.
If it’s a chick, or a youngster, it probably can’t fly and will have dropped out of its nesting site. Mid July onwards, a fully grown juvenile (with white speckles on its head wings and body) might be capable of flying as with an adult, but any other bird should be put into a small box and advice sought from a local rehabilitation facility or your local vet. I will put details here later, but search for swift rehabilitators on Google if you need to. There is one in Horsham that I know of, but I will update this info.
If there are any broken or missing feathers, it can’t fly.
There is no rehabilitation centre around here, so if you are interested in taking on this role, get in touch. Its not easy or for the feint hearted, but veterinary staff will be capable. There are amazing people around the country carrying out this important role.
