Birdwatch Ireland has assured people that thousands of young swallow chicks will not be left behind when the birds migrate out of the country in the coming weeks.
A brood of swallows
An unusually mild September has seen many late broods of chicks being born in barns and outhouses across Co Donegal.
Now Birdwatch Ireland says it has been inundated with calls from worried people concerned about the young chicks.
However the group says that while the majority of swallows will leave in September, others will leave throughout October.
A spokesman said “The fact is, although the bulk of our Swallows leave us during September, it’s actually perfectly normal for good numbers to remain here well into October, and it happens every year.
“All going well, these late-brood chicks will leave their nests soon and begin the long and arduous flight to southern Africa, where they will spend our winter.”
Once strong enough the birds will gather and will make the 9,000km journey to South Africa but many will perish along the way.
The birds born in Ireland will return to the same location next year where they too will begin the breeding cycle.
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