Swifts Without Frontiers is pleased to announce that World Swift Day has a new Patron:
Sir Brian May!
2019-2025: Dr Jane Goodall
Since the first edition back in 2019, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE had been the enthusiastic patron for World Swift Day, encouraging global awareness and action. The British born ethologist and conservationist, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace, died on October 1st, 2025, aged 91.
Since 2012, Jane had also been supporting Swift conservation within the global network of Jane Goodall Institutes and her Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots programme. Today, the Roots & Shoots network has blossomed into thousands of members in more than 75 countries.
2026: Sir Brian May
Sir Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS is mostly known as a founding member of the iconic British rock band Queen, world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer. But he is also a Doctor of Astrophysics, 3-D stereoscopic photographic authority and advocate for animal rights, through his charity, the Save Me Trust. Moreover, he is a member of the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation ‘s Council for Hope.
Link with Swifts
The Save Me Trust campaigns for the protection of UK wildlife, including highlighting the conservation needs of Swifts. It promotes habitat protection and encourages awareness of these birds, which return to the UK from April to raise chicks. The Trust often highlights the arrival of Swifts in April, celebrating them as a crucial part of UK summer. Itadvocates for protecting Swift habitats and raising awareness about the dramatic decline in their population.
The Jane Goodall Institute has been supporting WSD from day one, helping spread Dr Jane Goodall’s video messages and sometimes organizing events on June 7. In Belgium, the Roots&Shoots team even offers workshops on Swifts all year round.
World Swift Day 2026
To mark this 8th edition of World Swift Day, on June 7, a video message by Sir Brian May will be published on the website of World Swift Day and on the social media of Swifts Without Frontiers. It will also be shared within the JGI network.
Quote
Says Sir Brian May: “I’d rather be remembered for saving animals. When I’m gone, people will no doubt remember me for Queen, but I would much rather be remembered for attempting to change the way we treat our fellow creatures”.
About World Swift Day
The World Swift Day (WSD) was created in January 2019 by Swifts Without Frontiers.
Every year since then, it has been celebrated around the globe, on June 7… even during “the COVID years”. Since day 1, Dr. Jane Goodall has been an enthusiastic Patron, each and every year!
Swifts Without Frontiers invites all NGO’s, municipalities, individuals, companies, schools and any collectivity caring for Swifts to celebrate that day by communicating about Swifts (whichever species) and by organizing events.
WSD was initially inspired by other World Days like the World Sparrow Day, then by the World Chimpanzee Day. The date of June 7 was chosen as the best “compromise date” between both hemispheres and all the different Swift species of the world.
Meanwhile, it has been celebrated in more than 50 countries, on all continents, covering about 40 different species.
The Save Me Trust
Founded by Dr. Brian May and Anne Brummer, this animal welfare organisation exists to proactively protect wild animals through campaigning, lobbying and changing laws. They specialise in collaborating with experts by working on the ground to find effective sustainable solutions based on science and common sense.
The Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation (JGLF)
The JGLFwas established in June 2017 by Dr. Jane Goodall DBE. The intent of JGLF is to build, invest, and manage an endowment to support programmes of the Jane Goodall Institute, including Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots. Jane’s wish was that future disbursements from the endowment would fuel conservation, research, and educational programs within the Jane Goodall community. www.janeslegacy.com
The Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation Council for Hope is a group of highly respected and influential individuals from the fields of conservation, science, business, government, media and the arts. All have a passion for protecting our planet and perpetuating Jane’s legacy as an everlasting force for good.
For further information
World Swift Day: https://www.worldswiftday.org/
Swifts Without Frontiers: https://www.worldswiftday.org/swifts-without-frontiers
Contact: https://www.worldswiftday.org/contact/
Sir Brian May: http://www.BrianMay.com
Twitter (X): / drbrianmay – YouTube channel: / brianmay
Save Me Trust: http://www.save-me.org.uk
Tel: 01344 625800 – Email: info@savemetrust.org
Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation: https://janeslegacy.org/
Jane Goodall Institute: www.janegoodall.global