Comments on: Migration of Swallows http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/ A place to chat about all types of birds and also exchange bird feeding and other wild bird advice Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:21:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Abby http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1354 Abby Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:07:56 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1354 I read somewhere that the first broods leave the earliest, so it might be that. I am so lucky that from spring to early autumn my days are filled with their chattering, it's very sad that it would appear this is becoming a rarity... I read somewhere that the first broods leave the earliest, so it might be that. I am so lucky that from spring to early autumn my days are filled with their chattering, it’s very sad that it would appear this is becoming a rarity…

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1350 Trish Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:21:00 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1350 Interesting. Spreading out their start of migration from late July to September. I wonder what decides them. their fitness? The weather? Some instinct they are born with I know what you mean about the place being quiet when the swallows leave. But we have had fewer swallows for a year or two now. I don't notice them as much in the summer as there are not many of them, which is a pity. Trisha Interesting. Spreading out their start of migration from late July to September. I wonder what decides them. their fitness? The weather? Some instinct they are born with

I know what you mean about the place being quiet when the swallows leave. But we have had fewer swallows for a year or two now. I don’t notice them as much in the summer as there are not many of them, which is a pity.

Trisha

]]> By: Abby http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1332 Abby Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:17:58 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1332 Just wanted to add, I counted, with difficulty :), over 40 swallows on the telegraph line in August by my house, they had also begun to thin out at that time as some left late July. The last pair left late September so it was a very good year for us. I hope next year is even more successful for swallow breeding! How I miss 'my' swallows when they leave, it is so quiet without them. Just wanted to add, I counted, with difficulty :) , over 40 swallows on the telegraph line in August by my house, they had also begun to thin out at that time as some left late July. The last pair left late September so it was a very good year for us. I hope next year is even more successful for swallow breeding! How I miss ‘my’ swallows when they leave, it is so quiet without them.

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Trish Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:50:19 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1330 Thank you for sending these details. I think of climate change as being more a worldwide problem, I never think that local weather changes could have an impact on birds. But of course it can. Trisha Thank you for sending these details. I think of climate change as being more a worldwide problem, I never think that local weather changes could have an impact on birds. But of course it can.

Trisha

]]> By: Dennis Pymm http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1326 Dennis Pymm Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:16:56 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1326 I live in N. Dorset and I too have noticed fewer Swallows this year. We have had them nest every year in our car-port but the very hot summers have caused problems and this year I don't think any survived from 2 hatchings. They built their nest high in the roof where it got extremely hot and the chicks fell from the nest, several not surviving; some persevered after we put them back lower down in the roof where there was more ventilation but ultimately I think it's the extreme heat that is causing the problems. Maybe they are going further north to nest. We had House-Martins last year (2010) the chicks that I saved after their nest fell off the wall the year before (2009); that was very satisfying but they did not return this year. I feel sure the extreme heat is to blame and they are searching out cooler regions. I live in N. Dorset and I too have noticed fewer Swallows this year. We have had them nest every year in our car-port but the very hot summers have caused problems and this year I don’t think any survived from 2 hatchings. They built their nest high in the roof where it got extremely hot and the chicks fell from the nest, several not surviving; some persevered after we put them back lower down in the roof where there was more ventilation but ultimately I think it’s the extreme heat that is causing the problems. Maybe they are going further north to nest. We had House-Martins last year (2010) the chicks that I saved after their nest fell off the wall the year before (2009); that was very satisfying but they did not return this year. I feel sure the extreme heat is to blame and they are searching out cooler regions.

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1098 Trish Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:14:31 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1098 Horrah! A good year for swallows in Cambridgeshire. It's must have been great to hear the first babies and know all was well for another year. It's strange how different parts of the country have different swallow numbers. There are so many variables in a swallows life that must make a difference to whether it survives or not Maybe we should try doing what was done in the 12th Century and tie some parchment round a swallow's leg to find out where it had been all winter. It worked then - read this http://birdtablenews.com/2009/06/bird-ringing/ Horrah! A good year for swallows in Cambridgeshire.

It’s must have been great to hear the first babies and know all was well for another year.

It’s strange how different parts of the country have different swallow numbers.

There are so many variables in a swallows life that must make a difference to whether it survives or not

Maybe we should try doing what was done in the 12th Century and tie some parchment round a swallow’s leg to find out where it had been all winter. It worked then – read this

http://birdtablenews.com/2009/06/bird-ringing/

]]> By: Abby http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1093 Abby Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:30:22 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1093 No information Trish butI just wanted to add it has been a good year for barn swallows for us in Cambridgeshire. We had around 12 - 15 returnees, the first flew in early April. The first babies were heard around mid May and they have all been busily breeding and mobbing me when the mood strikes them ever since! No information Trish butI just wanted to add it has been a good year for barn swallows for us in Cambridgeshire. We had around 12 – 15 returnees, the first flew in early April. The first babies were heard around mid May and they have all been busily breeding and mobbing me when the mood strikes them ever since!

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Trish Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:28:22 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1092 I haven't got any information. We don't have as many swallows as we had years ago. This is the first year we haven't had a dairy herd out at grass. Swallows always followed the dairy herd when they came in for milking. Winging their way around the cows. But the number of swallows we have has gone down over the last few years. I don't know the answer A reader wrote saying that she had seen a Crow eat a Swift http://birdtablenews.com/2011/06/crow-eating-a-swift-alive/ Could that be happening with swallows as well? I haven’t got any information. We don’t have as many swallows as we had years ago.

This is the first year we haven’t had a dairy herd out at grass. Swallows always followed the dairy herd when they came in for milking. Winging their way around the cows.

But the number of swallows we have has gone down over the last few years.

I don’t know the answer

A reader wrote saying that she had seen a Crow eat a Swift
http://birdtablenews.com/2011/06/crow-eating-a-swift-alive/

Could that be happening with swallows as well?

]]> By: Mary http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1091 Mary Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:44:44 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1091 27th June 2011. wanted to see if anyone else thought that there are very few swallows this year. We only have two or three flying around and no nest this year. We do have a squadron of Swifts (approx 30) screaming round the houses and a pair nest every year in my roof. We live by a river and usually see swallows hunting along it and across the water meadows but very few at the moment, probable even fewer House Martins that Sand Martins that also nest along the banks of the river. Perhaps something happened to them at their wintering grounds in Africa as the weather was good when they were migrating. Has anyone out there any information? 27th June 2011. wanted to see if anyone else thought that there are very few swallows this year. We only have two or three flying around and no nest this year. We do have a squadron of Swifts (approx 30) screaming round the houses and a pair nest every year in my roof.
We live by a river and usually see swallows hunting along it and across the water meadows but very few at the moment, probable even fewer House Martins that Sand Martins that also nest along the banks of the river. Perhaps something happened to them at their wintering grounds in Africa as the weather was good when they were migrating. Has anyone out there any information?

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2009/05/migration-of-swallows/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 Trish Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:31:39 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=2538#comment-1089 Hi, Ontario! I think of swallows as only nesting in England which I know is wrong. But I do think of them as British birds!! Yet I know they migrate. How wonderful that people all over the world are interested in swallows. You’re lucky that you can get so close. The swallows we’ve had nesting have so many old buildings to choose from we never really know where their nests are. You must go to the trouble of putting up a swallow nest box. And you’ve reaped the reward by getting so close to them. Trisha I wonder what migratory path they will take Hi, Ontario! I think of swallows as only nesting in England which I know is wrong. But I do think of them as British birds!! Yet I know they migrate.

How wonderful that people all over the world are interested in swallows.

You’re lucky that you can get so close. The swallows we’ve had nesting have so many old buildings to choose from we never really know where their nests are.

You must go to the trouble of putting up a swallow nest box. And you’ve reaped the reward by getting so close to them.

Trisha

I wonder what migratory path they will take

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