Protecting Swifts

Feature

Protecting Swifts

By MIKE O’CONNOR

Ecologist at IRD Duhallow

What are Swifts?

The Common Swift (Apus apus) is a loud, fast-flying bird that is usually found in urban areas. They are larger than Swallows but look somewhat similar in the air and are blackish brown in colour. They migrate to Ireland from Southern Africa every year for the months of May to August during which they breed with their mate (that they keep for life). The Swift spends the vast majority of its life in the air, where it feeds on airborne insects, and only lands when it is nesting to deliver a ‘bolus’ of insects to its chicks. Swifts are cavity nesters and have adapted to nest in urban settings, with eaves of rooves or holes in building walls providing an ideal nest site. Their selected nest site is important as they are sitefaithful, meaning they return each year to the same site. Swifts are colonial which they nest in groups.

Swift Declines

Unfortunately, Swifts are in trouble and recent data has shown that Swift numbers have declined by 40% since 2008. They are now on the red list of Birds of Conservation Concern.

Threats

While it is not yet fully clear why numbers have fallen so dramatically, it is believed that loss of nest sites due to building refurbishments and demolitions or design of modern buildings has played a major role (you may notice that Swifts often nest in old buildings or ruins). Climate change may also play a large role by affecting migration and making hunting difficult during severe weather events. Finally, declines in insect populations may also be a significant contributing factor to declines of Swifts as this reduces food availability.

How to help Swifts

There are several ways that we can help reverse the decline of Swifts. One of the first steps in helping these birds is to identify if they are nesting in your area and if so, to locate where they are nesting. If you have located a Swift site, record it on the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s citizen science platform. If you, your community, or your company are demolishing, renovating, or constructing a new building, ensure that you have first checked for Swifts. If a nesting site is present, ensure that all works take place outside of the breeding season and ensure that when Swifts return in May that they are not without a nest! This can be done by maintaining entrance gaps where possible, as the best nest for a Swift is its existing nest! Other options include the installation of a Swift brick that is integrated into the wall or a swift box that is attached to the wall, usually under the eave of the roof (the higher the better). Cats can be a deadly predator so ensure that cats do not have close access to the nest (e.g. the roof). Encouraging insect populations will also help Swifts (among others), so remember that when you let your garden grow, you are helping far more than just the bees! For more information including detailed advice on how to help Swifts, see BirdWatch Ireland’s Saving Swifts Guideline document which is free to download online.

A Swift brick