Drop into The Wonder Cabinet this Heritage Week and join Museum Educator, Geraldine Breen, for her talk on our most fascinating frequent flyer – the swift.

Each spring swifts reappear in the sky above our city after their long migration from Africa.

Join Geraldine as she takes you through the essentials of this species, with a peek behind the scenes and some stories about swifts in the city. Get ready to become a swiftie! 
 
No booking required. This talk is located at The Wonder Cabinet. Places are limited and on a first come, first served basis. Wheelchair accessible
 
For questions about this event please contact educationnh@museum.ie

Swift 101
 
We'll begin with a short introduction to the swift and uncover some secrets of their migration, breeding and behaviour, as well as top tips on how to identify them.  
 
A Peek Behind the Scenes
 
The Museum collections include approximately 20,000 bird specimens. Most of our birds are preserved as study skins. During this talk we will have a closer inspection of these collections.
 
Helping Swifts

With a decline of up to 40% in 15 years the common swift (Apus apus) is red listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland 2020- 2026.
 
Discover more about how we can help our swifts as we dip into the Dublin City Swift Survey 2021 and look at what communities are doing to help our swifts in the city.
 
For more information about swifts please visit BirdWatch Ireland and Swift Conservation Ireland.

Swifts in the City Project - Dublin City Council is working in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland to help swifts across the city as part of its commitment under the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025. The Dublin Swift Survey (2021) and Swifts in the City are projects supported by the National Parks & Wildlife Service under the National Biodiversity Action Plan and Dublin City Council. 

Image Credit: Piotr Rak

Opening hours are extended until 8pm on Thursday evenings from 4th July to 29th August at the NMI - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2

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