Derbyshire Swift Conservation is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Claire Mead as Project Co-ordinator to the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project. This role is one of three paid appointments, funded largely by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional funding from Breedon Group.
Survey work over the past 4 years has identified several previously unknown and significant Swift colonies in the Derbyshire Dales, allowing us to implement public and landlord awareness campaigns, measures to protect these nest sites and nest box installation schemes.
We estimate, however, that 85% of the region remains largely unknown, in terms of Swift breeding populations, raising the spectre that there may be many more colonies in the region at serious risk of damage or destruction. This stark realisation led us to conceive the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project. This will fund 3 posts over the next two breeding seasons and will help us fill many of the gaps in our knowledge of Swifts in The Derbyshire Dales.
Claire is a professional ornithologist having received her Doctorate in Conservation Biology with a thesis on ‘The Effects of Logging on Understorey Birds of Borneo’. Claire has also been leading the research work into the Rowsley Swift colony for the past few years and so joins us with an impressive record in Swift conservation.
Claire's primary focus will be to identify and survey settlements for existing swift colonies in the Derbyshire Dales District and will be recruiting local volunteers to help her in her quest. Artificial habitat will also be provided in those areas where colonies are felt to be at risk. This is a fantastic opportunity to give this species a helping hand in a world that is changing their habitat so rapidly. We wish Claire every success in her exciting but challenging venture.