{"id":4443,"date":"2022-06-03T11:52:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T11:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kilkennyheritage.ie\/?p=4443"},"modified":"2022-06-03T11:52:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T11:52:58","slug":"search-for-kilkennys-nesting-swifts-we-need-your-help-this-summer-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kilkennyheritage.ie\/2022\/06\/search-for-kilkennys-nesting-swifts-we-need-your-help-this-summer-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Search for Kilkenny’s Nesting Swifts – We need your help this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Search for Kilkenny\u2019s Nesting Swifts – We need your help this summer<\/strong>
\nThe Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council has commissioned Birdwatch Ireland to undertake a \u00a0countywide Swift survey in Kilkenny this summer. And we need your help to record Swifts.<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of Catherine Casey<\/p><\/div>\n

Swifts are a small migratory bird that flies to Ireland each summer from southern Africa. They nest in buildings in cities, towns, and villages. From May to August each year you\u2019ll hear their distinctive ‘screaming’ call as they fly at high speed over rooftops.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, their future is seriously threatened in Ireland mainly due to the loss of suitable nesting sites, and also impacts of climate change. With a 58% decline of Swifts in Ireland their survival is under threat. The good news is that there is a lot that we can all do to halt the decline.<\/p>\n

Last year we undertook the first county wide audit of Swifts in Kilkenny and recorded 199 nest sites. Kilkenny City had the most nests (76), followed by Thomastown (26), Graiguenamanagh (21), Callan (19), and Gowran (17). See more about the 2021 survey here.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0We\u2019re now starting our second survey to see how many Swifts there are this year and where they are nesting.\u00a0 Please get involved and record any Swifts in your area on https:\/\/records.biodiversityireland.ie\/record\/swifts#7\/53.455\/-8.016<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re new to birdwatching and would like to get involved, don\u2019t worry, as we\u2019re running Swift training workshops this summer. If you\u2019d like to be involved please email us at heritage@kilkennycoco.ie<\/a>. The support and active engagement of citizen scientists and communities throughout Kilkenny is critical to the success of the project.<\/p>\n

Useful Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n