Swift Crisis: Public Urged to Help Track Endangered Birds

BirdWatch Ireland is calling on the public to help track nesting Swifts across Fingal, south Galway, and west Cavan this summer, as part of a wider effort to halt the species’ dramatic decline.

Swifts are extraordinary birds that spend nearly their entire lives in flight — eating, sleeping, mating, and even gathering nest material while on the wing. They only return to land to breed, and once their chicks take flight, they won’t touch solid ground again for up to five years.

But despite their aerial prowess, these iconic summer visitors are now in trouble. According to BirdWatch Ireland’s Countryside Bird Survey, Ireland’s Swift population has dropped by 69% between 1998 and 2023. The species is now officially on Ireland’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, alongside other threatened birds like the Curlew, Corncrake, and Kestrel.

“Swifts, like us, are experiencing a housing crisis,” explains Tara Adcock, Urban Birds Project Officer with BirdWatch Ireland. “They depend on gaps in buildings for nesting, but as older buildings are renovated or demolished — and new ones are built without such spaces — nesting opportunities are disappearing.”

Swifts are site-faithful, returning to the same location year after year. The loss of even a single nesting site can have a serious impact. And unlike other species, they find it difficult to locate new nesting spaces.

In response, BirdWatch Ireland is carrying out detailed Swift breeding surveys in targeted areas and is asking members of the public to report any Swift nests they know of in Fingal, Galway, or Cavan. Reports should include location details, number of birds, and nest sites if known, and can be emailed to swifts@birdwatchireland.ie.

There’s good news too. Conservationists say Swifts can thrive in modern towns and cities — if given the right support. Specially designed nest boxes and built-in “nest bricks” are proven ways to give Swifts a home. They’re quiet, clean, and unlikely to disturb residents, making them ideal for public buildings and homes alike.

The Swift surveys this summer — running until August, before the birds migrate to sub-Saharan Africa — are part of a growing effort to map and protect these birds. Since 2017, BirdWatch Ireland has conducted 25 Swift surveys nationwide.

The Fingal Swift Survey is jointly run by BirdWatch Ireland and Fingal County Council, with funding from the Council. The south Galway and west Cavan surveys are supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) through the National Biodiversity Action Plan and in collaboration with Galway and Cavan County Councils.

More information and a free ‘Saving Swifts’ guide are available at www.birdwatchireland.ie.