Blog by Genevieve O’Reilly, RSPB NI Volunteer Swift Champion.
Day by day the anticipation grows and, not unlike a child in the back of the car on a day trip, I find myself saying ‘Are they here yet? Are they here yet?’
The arrival of my favourite summer migrant – the swift – is imminent and, as they are only with us for a few months, it’s important to enjoy every minute! With their excited screaming calls, and their acrobatic manoeuvres low over the rooftops of our villages, towns and cities, they are an enthralling species to observe. And once you know a few facts about the swift’s amazing lifestyle, you’ll be well and truly hooked!
Swifts come to Northern Ireland in late April or early May, from their wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa, to breed in the eaves and gables of our buildings. These little birds, weighing just 40g, spend their entire life on the wing until they are old enough to breed, usually at four years of age, and even then only ever leave their airy domain to nest and raise their young.
Stop for a minute to think about that fact - incredibly swifts eat, drink, mate, collect nesting materials and even sleep on the wing!
It was this enthralling fact that I learned at a Northern Ireland Swift Group talk a few years back that first made me determined to champion the swift - to make others aware of its presence among us over the summer months, of its amazing lifestyle and, most importantly, the fact that it is a species in decline.
Although the reasons for this decline are not yet fully understood, it is likely that loss of nesting sites in buildings through demolition, renovation, and modern building techniques, is a major contributing factor. Even something as simple as replacing guttering can block up the gaps through which swifts access their nests under the eaves.
Breeding swifts are site faithful, using the same nest site each year, and first time breeders will have identified a nest site the previous year. This means that on a swift’s return from Africa if its nest has disappeared, or access to it is no longer possible, it may not breed that year. If swifts are lost from an area, they can be hard to get back.
I joined RSPB NI as Volunteer Swift Champion in June 2013. It was a great time to come on board, coinciding with the first ever Belfast Swift Survey and the launch of the Belfast Swift City Project. The project aims to protect and increase swift colonies in Belfast through survey-led colony identification, protection of existing nest sites, provision of new nest sites (swift boxes, bricks and towers), and by raising public awareness.
Genevieve recently presented Aidan Crean from Friends of Falls Park with swift boxes. The 15 boxes, kindly donated by Lagan Valley Regional Park will help these wonderful birds find homes in West Belfast!
Earlier this month I was thrilled to be able to attend the Cambridge International Swift Conference along with Hayley Sherwin, RSPB NI Conservation Advisor, who was giving a presentation on our Belfast Swift Survey and the Belfast Swift City Project.
The three-day conference brought together over 150 swift experts and enthusiasts from 24 countries including Uzbekistan, Brazil and the USA, as well as closer to home in Europe and the British Isles.
It was a fantastic opportunity to broaden our knowledge of the species – its breeding, behaviour and migration – and to learn about the many case studies and conservation measures being carried out by organisations including the RSPB, action groups, and individuals in many different countries.
It was a packed programme with a host of talks, informative poster presentations to peruse and enthusiastic exchanges of experience and swift stories!
It was a pleasure to spend three days in the company of so many knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate swift experts and enthusiasts and an honour to share our Belfast swift experiences with them.
Back at base, the anticipation of this year’s arrivals is even greater than before... Are they here yet?
Delegates at the recent Cambridge Swift Conference pictured in front of a giant swift tower! Photo credit: Alan Clarke.