Donegal’s visiting bird population have delayed their exodus to warmer climates thanks to our unseasonably high temperatures.
Tens of thousands of migratory birds including swallows, warblers and housemartins would normally have started their exit – mostly to various parts of Africa by now.
But Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland has revealed that our summer visitors are staying a little longer this year as temperatures topped 25C in parts of the country on Wednesday.
“Birds don’t have calendars and decide they have to go on a certain date. They go by the climate change.
“And thanks to the unseasonably warm weather they are staying longer this year,” he said.
And he explained that the increase in temperatures could have a knock-on affect for the chances of many birds survival in Ireland for future generations.
Mr Hatch explained how many birds are now feeding as much as they can before they make their 8,000 km journey.
“Thanks to the good weather, there is an abundance of flies and other insects which many of these birds are stocking up on.
“That will stand them in good stead to make their long journeys and hopefully be able to return to Ireland again next year.
“A lot of species suffered this summer because of gorse fires and perhaps this is nature’s way of balancing that out,” he said.
As well as insect eaters including swallows and warblers, other birds including many species of tern also migrate at this time of year.
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