Call for swift nest survey help

A call for volunteers to help with a survey of swift nests has been made by Wild Kildare, writes Brian Byrne.

The survey is carried out annually by the group both to assess the population of swifts locally and also to help save their nesting places.

Wild Kildare members recently managed to save vulnerable nests on Kilcullen Parish Church, rendered inaccessible by scaffolding erected to temporarily repair damage from Storm Ophelia.

"When the scaffolding was erected it directly blocked the flight path to six of last year's 18 nests," says Paddy Sheridan of Wild Kildare. "We approached and had a meeting with the relevant bodies concerned to change the scaffolding to allow the birds fly in unhindered, which they kindly agreed to do. We are glad to report that all the nests concerned are occupied."

Wild Kildare has also managed to save a number of nests in Athy, Naas, Coill Dubh and Castledermot.

Anyone who would like to help with this year's survey can contact the group at wildkildare@gmail.com, or phone 087 6872939.

Kilcullen Diary Policy on Photographs. Kilcullen Diary Privacy Policy.