Worthing and Adur Swift Group

Worthing and Adur Swift Group is part of SDOS and was formed in 2025, led by Steve Lawless, with an enthusiastic and dedicated team of intrepid swift lovers.

In this first season they have dedicated time, primarily, to surveying in order to get an idea of the number of nests in Worthing. A couple of the team in Shoreham have also tried to keep an eye on swifts nesting in houses on Shoreham Beach and in the town.

To date they have logged 21 nests in Worthing, 1 in Shoreham, and 1 in Shoreham Beach. Swiftmapper is being used to record both screaming parties and nest sites, and the systematic survey work has identified additional nest sites from those recorded in previous years.

To support this work, articles have been published in local papers and magazines.

The Worthing and Adur Swifts Facebook group has grown to 100 members and this publicity has helped build awareness of the plight of these endangered birds.  A highly successful swift walk was organised in central Worthing during Swift Week with 13 enthusiastic members of the public attending.

What next? 

One aim is to increase the number of swift boxes and bird bricks, initially around existing nest sites. Swifts are colonial birds so the emphasis on surveying this season has provided a strong baseline from which to work.

St Marys church in Broadwater has agreed to the installation of swift boxes. This is a colony neighbourhood and therefore an important location.

Work is also ongoing with local councils and developers to try to get swift boxes/bricks included in the extensive new developments planned for the area.

How can I get involved?

Get in touch with Steve Lawless at one5wift@proton.me  if you would like to join the team. Monthly Zoom meetings will be held over the coming months to plan for the 2026 Swift season.

Join Adur and Worthing Swift group on Facebook.