|
|
Wild Inishowen 'swift' to help out
17.05.16
WILDLIFE lovers in
Inishowen have been 'swift' to help out one of our
favourite summer visitors.
Members of Wild Inishowen including George
McDermott, Dermot McLaughlin, Martin Moloney and
Carl King, have been busy erecting nest boxes around
Buncrana for swifts which are now turning up in the
local area after flying from their winter habitats
in Africa.
Swifts are one of Ireland's fastest flying birds and
are often mistaken for swallows. But unlike the
swallow's blue, cream and brick red colouring, the
swift is sooty brown. |
 |
|
Wild Inishowen members build some new
nestboxes in Buncrana for the summer visiting swift. |
The swift spends
virtually all of its life on the wing due to small,
weak feet that prohibits a firm landing.
Unlike the swallow and martin, it is rarely seen on
telephone wires during its summer stay from April to
August.
While the European population is said to be secure
overall, the swift is amber-listed in Ireland due to
a decline in the breeding population, says BirdWatch
Ireland. |
 |
|
Wild Inishowen members build some new
nestboxes in Buncrana for the summer visiting swift. |
The group has been
keeping its hundreds of Facebook followers up to
date on the progress of the swift houses. They are
placing the bird houses at sites where the swifts
nested last year.
The group have also taken on board some helpful tips
from people suggesting a few adjustments to the new
abodes.
One follower suggesting an amendment, said, "swifts
need to swoop from below up into the box". |
|
