Sir, – The recent article on Swifts by Ella McSweeney was a very interesting piece and her mention of the excellent projects by Patrick Earls, a volunteer with Swift Conservation Ireland, at schools in the Dublin area was much appreciated (“Our urban lives are wrapped up in the swift’s fate. To survive, they need our help”, Environment, July 27th).
However, there’s one element in the article that I would disagree with. Ella says that the swifts “go back to their home in central Africa”. While in Africa, the swifts don’t have a “home” because they fly 24/7 feeding all across central and southern Africa. I would argue strongly that wherever they breed is their home. They come here to breed and do not breed in Africa.
I think it’s very important that people realise that they do not breed in Africa and that by providing them with long-term secure nest sites in their breeding range, which includes Ireland, that we are securing the future of the species. – Yours, etc,
LYNDA HUXLEY,
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Swift Conservation Ireland,
Mayo.