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Imagine you’re walking in a park and you see a small, dark bird on the ground, its wings stretched out wide. It looks distressed, maybe even sick. Your first instinct might be to call a wildlife rescue or simply feel sad for it. But when that bird is a swift, your immediate help is the best thing you can offer.

This is a vital piece of advice that many people don’t know: If you see a swift lying on the ground with its wings splayed, don’t be afraid and don’t assume it’s sick or injured. More often than not, it’s a perfectly healthy bird that just can’t get back into the air.

Swifts are incredible aerial acrobats. They eat, sleep, and even mate while flying. Their unique anatomy—long, narrow wings and tiny, almost vestigial legs—makes them masters of the sky but completely unsuited for life on the ground. Their wings are too long and their legs are too short and weak to launch themselves from a flat surface. They need a little bit of height to catch the air and take flight.

So, what should you do if you find one?

1. Approach Calmly: Don’t rush or make sudden movements. The swift might be stressed, so move gently.
2. Pick It Up Carefully: Use both hands to scoop the bird up. Hold it gently but securely, as if you were holding a small, delicate ball.
3. Give It a Lift: Walk to an open space. Hold the swift up at the height of your hands, or a little higher if you can. Do not throw it into the air! Simply let it go.

The swift should feel the air beneath its wings and take off on its own. It’s a truly amazing thing to watch—one moment it’s a helpless bird on the ground, and the next, it’s soaring into the sky with speed and grace.

This simple act can be the difference between life and death for a swift. It’s a small reminder that sometimes the best way to help is to understand what a creature truly needs.

With respect and thanks to Deborah for this invaluable advice, let’s all be ready to give these magnificent flyers a helping hand when they need it most.