#birds Swifts fly thousands of miles to breed in the UK—only to find their nest sites blocked up. Their ancient forests with nest hollows now gone, they relied on cavities in buildings, but these, too, have disappeared. To stop their steep 2/3rds decline since 1995, an inexpensive swift brick nest box was proposed to be incorporated by law into new buildings—also helping other red-listed cavity nesting bird species. But in a vote last night, UK Labour destroyed a golden opportunity to do this small thing for one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.