Barn swallow story and song
Photos Arne Ader
Sound of nature Veljo Runnel
Translation Liis
Barn swallows
Barn swallow Suitsupääsuke Hirundo rustica
By early June most of our barn swallows had started their nesting. The female laid 4-5 eggs as usual. The swallow chicks hatched around Midsummer and began to leave the nests at about July 10-15. In daytime they often sit on the power lines; there the young barn swallows with their short tails can be mistaken for house martins who have a similar short and shallowly forked tail (find the young barn swallows in Arne’s photo). Part of the adults settled down for a new nesting.
The non-nesting adults and the juveniles of the first clutch started to gather in flocks in the second half of July ; nights are spent in the reed beds at the banks of larger lakes, rivers or sea bays or in the shrub thickets there. In some locations the swallow flocks can be expected each year.
Towards late August – early September, before sunset and with beautiful and calm late summer weather, we meet barn swallows in the greatest numbers because now the northern nesters have also arrived here. In some overnight places thousands of barn swallows may gather. Near water bodies the air is warmer, insects are more numerous and even large flocks find their share of food in the evening as well as morning.
In flocks they are better protected against enemies, particularly the just fledged and not very skilled juveniles who still are a quite easy catch for a sparrowhawk or a European hobby (Falco subbuteo).
Veljo Runnel recorded bans swallows at Palupõhja: LINK
Barn swallows in reed bed
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