South Dublin County Council and BirdWatch Ireland are undertaking a Survey for Swifts across South Dublin County in 2020. Swifts are small migratory birds that visit Ireland every year from southern Africa. They arrive here to nest in May before returning again to the southern hemisphere in late August. Swifts have adapted to nesting in cavities in buildings in our cities, towns, and villages, making them an iconic bird of our urban environment. Their distinctive ‘screaming’ call is uttered on the wing as they fly over rooftops at high speed. Their future is seriously threatened, however, due primarily to the loss of nesting sites. To help stop this worrying decline, it is vital for us to understand Swift nesting patterns and the factors impacting on successful nesting.
They need your help to discover how many Swifts there are in the County and where they are nesting. As part of a wider national survey for Swifts, BirdWatch Ireland will be undertaking ground survey work in South Dublin County in June, July and August to find, record, and map nesting sites. Also, through social media and other digital means, they are encouraging local communities and residents to get involved, by recording and reporting the presence of Swifts in their own localities.
From May 29th 2020, a link to an online presentation with all the details on this project and how you can get involved can be accessed on www.facebook.com/BirdWatchIreland/ or youtube.com/user/BirdWatchIreland
The ‘Saving Swifts’ free guide booklet can also be downloaded from the BirdWatch Ireland Website at: https://birdwatchireland.ie/publications/saving-swifts-guide/
For further information on Swifts and the BirdWatch Ireland national swift survey, please email or call Ricky Whelan (BirdWatch Ireland Project Officer) at rwhelan@birdwatchireland.ie or on 085 783 2545.
The South Dublin County Swift Survey 2020 is an initiative of the South Dublin County Heritage Plan and is supported by funding from the Heritage Council and South Dublin County Council. For further information on this project, contact the County Heritage Officer, Rosaleen Dwyer, at heritage@sdublincoco.ie
