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REPORT ON SWIFT BREEDING SITES IN CASTLEBAR

By Lynda Huxley (January 2014)

Contact details: natureofireland@eircom.net 094 9032422

INTRODUCTION

The Swift is an amber listed bird of conservation concern in Ireland and across Europe. Swifts come to Ireland’s towns to breed, arriving in May and

departing in August each year. They are faithful to their nest sites returning to the same one for the duration of their life, it is known as a traditional

nest site. The Swift exists in our towns without causing any public nuisance as there are never any droppings left under the nests, making them an

ideal town inhabitant, especially as they provide a good service by consuming thousands of flying insects.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FACILITATE NESTING SWIFTS?

Swift numbers have declined by over 40% in the past twenty years. The main cause of this decline is loss of breeding sites. They nest in buildings in towns. Their

traditional nests can usually be found at the top of walls or in cavities in brick work. They gain access to the tops of walls by climbing behind the fascia board. When

repairs or renovation work are carried out to roofs and guttering the birds can no longer gain access to their traditional nesting site. Since Swifts are colonial birds,

repair or renovation work can often affect more than one pair of birds.

Swifts now rely on the buildings in our towns for their nest sites. In order to secure the future of Swifts we need to ensure that their traditional nest

sites are secured where possible and to provide new nest sites so that the population can recover. In Castlebar, surveys were carried out to identify

the buildings where traditional nest sites are located so that these can be preserved wherever possible. The total number of probable nesting pairs

found in Castlebar in 2013 was 19. Further surveys will be carried out in 2014. My contact details can be found at the top of the page if any help or

further information is needed.

This report contains the following information:

Map of the town showing which breeding sites have been located in 2013 (page 2)

Picture and detail about each site. The Swift nest site is indicated with an arrow (pages 3 to 9)

Information to explain measures that can be carried out to ensure that traditional nest sites can be secured and different types of nest boxes

that can be used.

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Gallows Hill

The Monastery

Main Street

Castle St

The Mall

St Marys

GMIT

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Site 1: Gallows Hill

One pair of swifts is nesting in the soffit in this house.

They are entering via a little hole just to the left of the

Downpipe.

This pair is vulnerable because if his hole is blocked up or

Repaired then the birds will lose access to this site for breeding.

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Site 2: The Monastery

There are approximately 3 pairs of Swifts nesting in this building.

One pair at the front, one at the side and one at the rear.

They gain access behind the roof board and climb in to the

top of the wall.

The building and roof seem to be in good repair so if no work

is carried this building then the population here should be secure.

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Site 3: Main Street

There are several buildings on Main Street where the Swifts

have been able to find small holes in the stone work where they

can gain entrance to a breeding place.

In 2012 and 2013 birds were seen entering nest site above

McHale Butchers and also above the Oriental Chinese Restaurant.

In 2012 several pairs were seen entering the roof space

above Parson’s shoe shop but in the winter of 2012

roof and gutter repairs were carried out and the birds

Were not able to gain access here in 2013.

There is also one possible site in the stone building next to the

AIB.

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Site 4: Castle Street

There are at least 2 pairs of swifts nesting in the building

on Castle Street that currently houses Eureka Shop.

The birds are able to gain access to the top of the

wall via gaps behind the facia board. If the guttering and

facia board is replaced without consideration for the swifts

then the birds are likely to lose their nesting place.

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Site 5: The Mall

One pair of Swifts is gaining access to the top of the wall of

This building where there is a hole in the wall at the end of facia.

This building is located on The Mall near the Garda Station.

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Site 6: St Mary’s

Several nest site entrances have been

noted in the buildings in this courtyard. More

thorough observations will be carried out

here in 2014 to ascertain how many

nest sites there are.

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Site 7: GMIT (Galway Mayo Institute of Technology – Mayo Campus

There are at least 5 pairs of swifts nesting in a traditional site

Indicated by the black arrow.

There were 2 probably nesting in the nest boxes in 2013 and we expect to

confirm this in 2014 because nest box cameras have been installed in all

twelve nest boxes. Images will be livestreamed on the GMIT website.

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This report was compiled by Lynda Huxley in October 2013 from information gathered in June and August 2013 under the banner of Swift

Conservation Ireland. I would like to thank all the people who participated in the Swift survey evenings which helped identify the Swift breeding sites

in the town in 2012 and 2013 (see list below). There may well be other sites that have not yet been identified.

Thanks to the following people who helped with the surveys: Bob and Vanessa Adams, Margaret Graham, Jacinta Greene, Ger Heverin, Mick Hogan,

Chris Huxley, Rosemarie McDonald. Also thanks to Swift Conservation Ireland (wiftconservationireland.blogspot.ie), Swift Conservation (www.swift-

conservation.org), Save our Swifts ( www.saveourswifts.co.uk) and Action for Swifts (actionforswifts.blogspot.com) for use of their material.

PRESERVING TRADITIONAL NEST SITES AND OPTIONS FOR ARTIFICAL NEST BOXES

TRADITIONAL NEST SITES

Please try to follow these rules when working where Swifts are nesting :

1. Do not work on the roof while the Swifts are nesting (late April to late August)

2. Leave existing Swift nest places undisturbed by any works

3. Preserve the Swifts' access holes or make new ones to match the old exactly

4. Do not block access with scaffold and do not net or wrap areas where Swifts are nesting

Some advice on how to repair & renew roofs and replace guttering without destroying nests

Repairs, re-roofing and replacing guttering are unavoidable, but where there are Swifts nesting this usually means the loss of the traditional nest

site. The new efficient building systems almost always deny them access to the holes, crevices and open eaves where they nest with the result that

Swift numbers are declining at an alarming rate as there are ever fewer places left for them to nest in. But with just a little foresight, planning and

care it is possible to preserve the Swifts' nest places.

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Where Swifts will be nesting and How to save their nests and let them breed safely :

Never re-roof where and when there are Swifts nesting (end of April to late August)

Inside Eaves - in "open" eaves, under the bottom row of tiles, above the gutter, just inside the roof-space. Leaving the eaves open is the

simplest & best solution or cut slots in the soffit or facing boards to match the old entrances

In the loft - If you have to, install a ventilated plywood partition at least 30cm inside the loft to enclose the Swift nest areas and make the

loft area usable

In Holes - in holes in walls where pipes have been removed. Where they are not going to be a problem just leave old holes.

Behind Flashings - on brick ends or in holes under loose / missing flashings on chimneys and skylights. You can offset or lengthen flashings

and ridge/end tiles to let the Swifts back in without affecting weatherproofing.

Inside Gables - behind barge boards and gables, on the brick ends. You either leave well alone or else fit simple wooden nest places behind

the bargeboards.

Under Tiles - under loose or displaced tiles, on the roof timbers or felt. Reinstate the tiles keeping the old gaps where the Swifts gained

entry exactly where they were. You can do this easily by inserting wedges of cement and pieces of tile beneath the new tiles, to lift them by

30mm to provide access for the Swifts.

Missing Pointing - in voids behind gaps between stones or bricks where the pointing has washed out. Leave as is if you can.

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ARTIFICIAL NEST BOXES

Artificial nest boxes can be used very successfully for Swifts if they are placed in the correct location. They should be at least 5 metres above ground

level and not below about 4 metres and placed such that they do not receive full sun in summer. There should be a clear flyway in front.

While it is preferable to incorporate nesting places inside a building, external nest boxes placed near to nest sites that have been lost can be

particularly effective to mitigate the loss.

Occupancy can be considerably accelerated by playing Swift attraction calls. Speakers can be placed on the ground below the boxes, on a window

sill or attached to the box. Small speakers placed inside a box can be particularly effective. Patience is of the essence, it could take a year or three

for Swifts to find the boxes.

Below is a choice of Swift nest boxes :

SCHWEGLER WOODCRETE NEST BOXES

German company Schwegler make a selection of nest boxes for Swifts that are made of woodcrete and have a 25 year guarantee. They can either

be built into a wall or fixed to the outside of a wall.

This No17 Schwegler single nest box costs around €65.00

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The triple cavity No. 17 Schwegler box seen in this photo is used at the GMIT Mayo Campus Swift nest box project has proved

to be very successful with birds being seen going into all 12 nest boxes. A triple cavity box costs around €160.00

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There is also the No. 25 Schwegler box which has to be built into a wall. It costs around €45.00.

IBSTOCK SWIFT NEST BRICK

This is a terracotta fronted nest box which can be installed in a new or restored building. It is made in red, blue and cream.

They are made to order from www.ibstock.com. They were used successfully in new public library in Antrim, Northern

Ireland.

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HOMEMADE SWIFT NEST BOXES

It is possible to make Swift nest boxes from wood. These are quite cheap to make but it must be remembered that wood will rot and to the boxes

will need replacing after several years.

Several designs can be found on actionforswifts.blogspot.com