Northern Ireland Swift Survey

Local Swift enthusiasts need your help with a survey.

Swifts are black, sickle-winged birds that characteristically wheel at high speed around buildings in the summer. We fear our local population of this bird is in decline, possibly through a reduction of nesting sites caused by building renovation. We need more information on Swift numbers and this is where you can help.

Swifts nest almost exclusively in buildings, often under the eaves and they return to the same nest year after year. They are quite easy to identify, being dark in colour and often with a distinctive anchor-like shape in flight.

All you need to do is visit the site, where you have seen the Swifts, on one day in May, another in June and finally a day July. Early morning and evening are the best times to look but records from any time of day are useful. Try and count how many swifts there are and write down the results on the survey form.

Photo Copyright: Tom Lindroos/courtesy of London's Swifts www.london-swifts.org.uk