Survey of Meath swift population - how to get involved

by Ricky Whelan, BirdWatch Ireland Project Officer

Perhaps the most iconic and intriguing of our urban bird species, swifts are a small migratory bird that visit Ireland each year to nest. They travel from southern Africa where they have spent nine months of the year. Their future is seriously threatened in Ireland due to loss of nesting sites and suitable feeding habitats.  From May to August each year, you will usually hear swifts before you see them, their distinctive piercing 'screaming' call is uttered on the wing as they fly superbly over roof tops at high speed.

However, the good news is that there is a lot that can be done to halt the decline in Meath’s swift population, knowing how many swifts there are and where they nest in our towns and villages is the first step.  The support and active engagement of local communities is critical to building greater awareness of this unique bird species and in undertaking conservation action where it is needed.

This summer, BirdWatch Ireland, with the support of the Meath branch of BirdWatch Ireland will conduct a swift survey in Meath.  Although finding, recording and mapping swift nesting sites is core to the Meath Swift Survey, BirdWatch Ireland will also make focused efforts to get local communities and residents involved in recording but more so in the protection of swift breeding colonies and nest sites.

Across Ireland, Tidy Towns groups, community groups and interested individuals are playing a vital role in swift conservation by undertaking projects to directly help conserve swifts in their localities. In Meath, swift projects are being undertaken in Trim and elsewhere throughout the county.  Similar to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, there is a large body of support for swift conservation efforts and BirdWatch Ireland is hoping this will continue in Meath during and after the 2019 County Swift Survey.

 

Swift in Flight, by Dick Coombes

To learn more about the County Meath Swift Survey and how you can get involved, you can attend the County Swift Survey Workshop in Trim Library, on Tuesday May 7th 2019 at 7pm.

Members of the BirdWatch Ireland Conservation Team will be on hand to discuss swift ecology, conservation and local involvement before going outdoors to view Swifts nearby.  The workshops are free and all are welcome to attend.

The 'County Meath Swift Survey 2019' is an initiative of Meath County Council Heritage Office and is part funded by the Heritage Council through their County Heritage Plan Fund.

For more information, email or call Ricky Whelan (BirdWatch Ireland Project Officer) at rwhelan@birdwatchireland.ie