In 2012, 4 triple entrance Schwegler 17A Swift nest boxes were installed at the ATU Mayo Campus in Castlebar (prior to 2022 known as GMIT Mayo Campus) providing 12 nest compartments. In 2019, an additional 2 triple boxes were installed providing another 6 nest boxes and giving a total of 18 nest compartments.
The 2023 season is here. The ATU are currently streaming 4 nest boxes and Stream 2/Box 8 have got one egg and a second one being laid today – 18 May. We’ll keep you updated as the season progresses. 24 July 2023: The past 24 hours has seen the fledging of our first chicks. One chick has fledged from Boxes 2 and 9 leaving one remaining chick in each nest which will fledge in the coming days. The chicks in Boxes 4 and 7 are busy exercising ready for their first flight. Meanwhile in Box 16 the chick is just a couple of weeks old and will only be fledging in mid-August. You’ll be amazed to learn that when a Swift chick fledges from the nest it is entirely on its own, the parents no longer feed it and it will be flying non-stop for up to 2 or 3 years until it has found its own nest site.
