COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2019

QUESTION NO. 50

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a report into ''Swifts'' birds in our county? What is being done to preserve there nesting areas, how many are know to be in SDCC area and in what locations?

REPLY:

Swifts are small migratory birds which are larger than Swallows and which arrive in Ireland to breed every May. Adult Swifts mate for life and are frequently seen in urban areas, constructing their nests in crevices in buildings and eaves of houses. They are site-faithful, returning to the same nesting site for many years.

To date, two locations in Clondalkin have been confirmed as Swift nesting sites – the Council’s outdoor Depot in Deansrath and the Convent of the Immaculate Conception.

Swifts are currently showing worrying declines in population size and distribution, with data indicating that a 40% decline has occurred in the last 10 years alone. For this reason they are on the ‘Amber’ list of Birds of Conservation Concern. Reasons for their decline include loss of nesting sites during renovation and construction of new buildings without suitable nesting opportunities.  

Under the Heritage Plan, the County Heritage Officer has participated in a joint Heritage Officer project which worked with BirdWatch Ireland to produce guidelines for the protection and conservation of Swifts. This document ‘Saving Swifts’ is now available from the Heritage Officer and outlines measures that can assist Swifts to breed successfully in this County.

The Heritage Officer is also currently in discussion with BirdWatch Ireland in relation to the development of a ‘Saving Swifts’ project in South Dublin County for 2020. This project will include an assessment of the current distribution of Swift nesting sites across the County and advising Council and communities on how nesting sites can be protected, enhanced, or created into the future.