Press Releases - July/Aug 2006 - Item 10

No. 2006/08/36
August 2006

Do bank holiday birds avoid bottlenecks?

News Release 2006-08-36

Bank holiday weekend will yet again see a mass migration of people all seeking some late sun; but they’re not the only ones!

While our roads start to clog up with cars, the skies will remain an open highway for thousands of departing migrant birds. As we all stop off at motorway service stations or roadside cafés, then so our departing Swifts and Swallows will also be fuelling up, but doing it on the wing, grabbing a snack of aerial insects as they travel.

The BirdTrack survey is keen to follow the bank holiday movements of these birds, so when you’re out and about this weekend, why not get the kids to keep an eye out for Swifts and Swallows.

As an easy guide to the difference between the two, compare the silhouettes below, showing the rakish Swift and the more compact Swallow:

Birdwatchers can contribute to our understanding of the timing of arrival of migrants by contributing to BirdTrack (www.birdtrack.net), the online bird recording project. Records of all species, but particularly migrants are welcome.

BirdTrack is organised by the BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland

Notes for Editors

1. BirdTrack is an online bird recording scheme www.birdtrack.net organised by BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland.

2. To register for BirdTrack visit the BirdTrack website (www.birdtrack.net and click on the 'Register for BirdTrack' link). Registering is free.

3. Birdwatchers are encouraged to enter their birdwatching lists online to support species and site conservation at local, national and international scales.

4. We need to gather a large number of lists at all times of the year. Complete lists (all species seen and heard) are preferred but incomplete lists and casual records will also help build our understanding of populations.

5. Results produced by BirdTrack will help us to map the migration and movements of birds and monitor of scarce birds in Britain and Ireland. Maps are available from for use in publications.

6. BirdTrack follows on from the successful Migration Watch project that looked at spring migration in 2002-2004. BirdTrack runs all-year and gathers information on spring and autumn migration.

7. Images are available from

8. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

Mark Grantham
BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.
Tel: 01842 750050 or BTO Press Mobile 07704 847935
E-mail:

Grahame Madge
Media Officer, Conservation PR
RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1767 681577 Mobile and out of hours contact: 07702 196902
Pager: 07654 344078
E-mail:

For information about BirdTrack in the Republic of Ireland contact:
Olivia Crowe
BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 353 - 1 - 2819878 Email:

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