A Swift Start to Survey Season

Last year the BirdWatch Ireland Swift Team carried out Swift survey work on behalf of the OPW (Office of Public Works) at a number of their heritage sites around the country.

Swifts in the summer sky Pauline Skoczylas

Swifts are traditionally associated with old and historic buildings as they provide nesting opportunities which the birds exploit. Modern buildings lack the same opportunities, as modern building techniques and materials make these buildings unsuitable for nesting Swifts.

Last season (summer 2015) we completed survey work at Kilkenny Castle, Portumna Castle, Roscrea Castle/Damar House, Clonmacnoise and Kilmainham Gaol. To our delight, with the exception of Kilmainham Gaol all sites had nesting swifts. The size of the colonies varied from one nesting pair at Clonmacnoise right up to twelve nesting pairs confirmed at Kilkenny Castle.

Common Swift on wall close to nest hole Artur Tabor

Not alone did last seasons surveys prove the "historic building" rule but it also discovered one very unusual nest site. One pair of swifts had nested at waist height within the wall of the round tower at Clonmacnoise. I wonder what the monks would think of that having managed to keep the Vikings out of their tower for all those years! Footage of the Swifts visiting their nest within the wall of the round tower can be viewed here.

Swift Nest Location at Clonmacnoise Brian Caffrey

This year we have embarked on another round of Swift site surveys on behalf of the OPW and we took advantage of the good weather in late May to kick things off. This year we are visiting Ennis Friary (Co.Clare), Athenry Castle (Co.Galway), Emo Court (Co.Laois) and Trim Castle (Co. Meath) during the months of May, June and July. Our survey visits will ascertain if these heritage buildings are suitable for nesting swifts and whether or not swifts are currently nesting at the sites.

Swift survey at Ennis Friary (from the garden looking onto the Chancel) Brian Caffrey

The early visits tend to tell us more about the viability of the sites and a suggestion of whether Swifts might be nesting there rather than giving us hard evidence. We are in the middle of visit number two to each of the sites and will report back soon with a new blog post in the coming weeks.

In the meantime if you are familiar with any of these sites, other OPW heritage sites or have any Swift nest records please log them on our new online mapping tool here.

For more information on Swifts see our Swift Project Pages or email the Swift Team at: swifts@birdwatchireland.ie

A Saints Blessing for Banagher's Swifts

Today we met the students and teachers from St Rynaghs National School in Banagher Co. Offaly, only a stones throw from the BirdWatch Ireland Banagher office. The school has partnered up with Banagher Tidy Towns Group to help conserve Swift populations in this small town.

In the early spring Banager Tidy Towns Group planned and coordinated their Swift Nest Box Project. With funding from the Heritage Council and Offaly County Council they bought and erected 5 top of the range Schwegler nest boxes. The work was enthusiastically carried out by local FAS and TUS scheme participants.

Schwegler Swift Boxes at St Rynaghs NS, Banagher Ricky Whelan

The project aims to help Swift populations locally by providing safe and permanent nesting places for these summer visitors whilst bringing the species right into the heart of the three local educational facilities. As well as the Swifts, St Rynaghs NS, Banagher College and Banagher Further Education Center have all benefited from the project.

Swift Boxes high up on St Rynaghs Tower Building Ricky Whelan

During today's visit to Ms Keenaghan's second class we hoped to inform and inspire the class pupils on the importance of protecting Swifts and our environment. The class went on an Urban Safari to observe the towns Swifts go about their daily business. We looked at older buildings suitable for nesting birds and compared them to more modern buildings that for the most part nullify the opertunity for nesting swifts. We discussed all the amazing facts about the species and talked about the various threats they face and why we need to protect their breeding places.

Q & A Session back in class Ricky Whelan

Typical of Ireland, our Swift Safari got cut short by rain showers so we retreated back to the school for an in-dept "questions and answers" session with the pupils. The pupils really had grasped the topic and had lots of very interesting (and difficult) questions.

We hope the second class pupils will become real ambassadors for Swifts and help spread the word to their friends and families for a long time to come. Fingers crossed that their boxes will have some residents in the near future and we will blog any updates in the future.

Thanks to St Rynaghs Principal Mr McMahon, class teacher Ms Keenaghan and all the pupils for their enthusiasm and for making the visit so enjoyable.

For more information on Swifts and how you can help them see our Swift Project Page here.

To record a swift sighting or nesting location click here.

Save Swifts With Your Summer Sightings

New Swift survey webpage

We have just designed a new online Swift Sighting form and we want you to get using it!

Over the past few summers we have been appealing to birdwatchers and the wider public to log their Swift sightings and nest locations. 

Each year BirdWatch Ireland is contacted by people concerned that their local Swift colony may be in danger due to building renovations or even demolition. By the time we hear from these people its often too late to act in order to protect these colonies or mitigate for the planned works. 

This year is no different we want you to log your Swift colony locations and swift sightings so over time we can build up an itinerary of where Swifts are nesting across the entire country. If we can gather this information we will be armed with robust data enabling us to look out for and take care of Irelands Swift colonies. 

New mapping system, just click on your sighting location

The Swift breeding season is beginning to hot up now with parent birds on eggs and the first feeding visits will be starting soon. There is no better time to have a look at the sites where you feel Swifts might be nesting and if your hunch is right please log your observations on our new swift mapping system.

New "View Submissions" map, check out Swift records here

The new mapping format allows you to log sightings and absence of Swifts, whilst it also allows you to view all the submissions received this season. 

Swift Network, just click on the county your after

Lastly we have provided an updated Swift Network map which give s all the contact information you may need to get in touch with your local Swift Network member who will be able to help advise you on of all things Swift related.

So please go to our Swift Survey Page here and log your sightings throughout the summer.

Dont hesitate to get in touch with the BirdWatch Ireland Swift Team at any stage: swifts@birdwatchireland.ie