| MAY 2007
The Swallows and swifts are specialized arboreal
insectivores. The swallow is one of my favourite birds as
is the swift. When it comes to migration, they take first
prize. You can see all these birds right now, as they鈥檙e
on their way to the North West.
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Migration
European swallows spend the winter in Africa south of the
Sahara, in Arabia and in the Indian sub-continent.
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British swallows spend their winter in South Africa: they
travel through Western France, across the Pyrenees, down
Eastern Spain into Morocco, and across the Sahara. Some
birds follow the west coast of Africa avoiding the Sahara,
and other European swallows travel further east and down
the Nile Valley. Swallows put on a little weight before
migrating.
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They migrate by day at low altitudes and find food on the
way.
Despite accumulating some fat reserves before crossing
large areas such as the Sahara Desert, they are vulnerable
to starvation during these crossings. Migration is a hazardous
time and many birds die from starvation, exhaustion and
in storms.
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Migrating swallows cover 200 miles a day, mainly during
daylight, at speeds of 17-22 miles per hour. The maximum
flight speed is 35 mph.
In their wintering areas swallows feed in small flocks,
which join together to form roosting flocks of thousands
of birds. Swallows arrive in the UK in April and May, returning
to their wintering grounds in September and October.
|
Declan
has been pounding the city streets and parks in search of
wildlife. Each month he's been recording his findings in
this online diary. Find out what he's been spotting and
what you should be looking out for too. Read his diary entries
below. 
