RapportFondation_2026_V03 Pages LIGHT EN - Flipbook - Page 64
Supporting scienti昀椀c research
2025 REPORT
PORTUGAL
© Robert Booth
The journey of the swifts
An extraordinary odyssey between Africa and Europe
AMOUNT COMMITED TO DATE: € 10.973
2024 > PRESENT
Every year, the Common swift and Pallid swift undertake an extraordinary migration: more than 10,000 kilometres
separate their wintering grounds in Africa from their breeding sites in Europe. These remarkable birds are capable
of remaining airborne for up to ten months at a time, pushing the limits of endurance like few other species on Earth.
Yet today, their future is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change and the ongoing loss of suitable habitats.
To better understand and protect these fascinating species, an ambitious scientific project is being carried out jointly
in Belgium and Portugal. It focuses on four key colonies: two in Belgium and two in Portugal.
As part of a collaboration between the Pairi Daiza Foundation and Bluegreen Labs, Common swifts are fitted with
ultra-light geolocators. These tiny tracking devices provide valuable data on their migration routes, stopover sites,
and the environmental pressures they face along the way.
In parallel, the growth of the young birds is closely monitored through regular measurements and analysis of their
droppings, offering crucial insights into insect availability and the overall health of the ecosystems on which they
depend.
© Lyndon Kearsley
64
© Lyndon Kearsley
