Barn Swallows News from Abroad

By Risto Jäntti 

5-05-2010 Now it is sure that our first swallows have arrived: it was today the first time that I saw two barn swallows inside the barn and they were also twittering always near certain nests, not where ever. It is possible that those two birds which I saw on Monday are the ones that were today in the barn, but no one can be sure about that. Yesterday there were no signs of swallows whatsoever, because it was so cold. Today the temperature reached the "shocking" 8 deg C, and tomorrow, with luck, it can be as high as 11 deg C. Anyway, the swallows must be able to find food, otherwise they wouldn't´t be here.
I´ll keep you informed about the swallows.

9-05-2010 Already three consecutive days without any signs of swallows. They have had to retreat towards the south due to bad weather. First it was cold and windy, then yesterday it rained cats and dogs, today it was already quite warm, 9 deg C, but nevertheless no swallows. In a few days the weather will get warmer, by the end of the week we ought to have even summer temperatures, over 20 deg C. Well, summer is almost around the corner, statistically in a couple of weeks it ought to be here! The main swallow migration is expected to happen in the middle of May, that is starting next week. At least the weather will be favourable and I am expecting a real swallow rush.
I still haven´t got the heart to stop feeding birds. It has been so cold and so many birds still come to eat that I have let that happen. Maybe next week I´ll finish it

11-05-2010 The weather is slowly getting warmer: today, although cloudy, the temperature was over 11 deg C. In the evening, when working in the yard, I heard a lot of swallow twitter that was coming nearer and nearer. And then about 10 barn swallows appeared and after flying some rounds above the yard they slipped into the barn and immediately started a joyfull singing concert. I tried to count them but it was impossible because they were so excited and flew around the barn. Suddenly the barn and the yard are full of swallow calls and twitter. By the end of the week the temperature is expected to rise over 20 deg C and I think more and more swallows will come. Also several House Martins came today, the first time this year and slipped into the artificial nests which I have got 15 nests altogether. It´s so great to have swallows back (well, for some time). I´ll again do my best to take care of them, it´s a matter of honor to me.

28-05-2010 found today a dead barn swallow on the barn floor. It was still a bit warm so it had died a short time before I found it. Although I didn't´t see what happened, I´m quite sure that the unfortunate bird had a fight with another swallow. The bird can also have flown against a roof beam in the heat of a chase with the deadly outcome. If a predator had attacked the swallow, the predator would have taken the bird away from the barn. The fact that the bird had no visible injuries also speaks against predators.
The bird was ringed, but unfortunately the ring was not South African. Janne said he´s sure it´s one
of his ringings, but because he´s not at home at the moment, where his ringing notes are, he couldn't´t say anything more precise. I put the bird in the freezer and will offer it to an animal stuffer to whom I´ve given lots of dead birds.
The weather has continued cold and rainy, but next week it should be a bit warmer.

1-06-2010 I have now got more detailed information about the dead swallow. Janne called me that the bird was ringed in July 2008 at our farm as a nesting female. As you know, nesting birds have a certain area in their bellies without feathers to allow a direct body warmth contact with the eggs for more effective incubation. With swallows that featherless area is more clear on females. After nesting feathers grow back in that area. By the way, how is that featherless area called in English? The tail length of the swallow was 54 mm in 2008 and 56 mm when found dead. It´s a pity that the bird died and especially regrettable that the swallow was a female, because it means less chicks. Hopefully no more deaths will occur.
I may have found possible explanations for the aggressiveness of our swallows. Maybe there are so many swallows in the barn that they would need more room for nesting. Another reason might be that if there are more males than females, the pairless males may try to get themselves females at any cost. As a whole there has been only one especially aggressive swallow through several nesting seasons. I named the bird "Screech throat". The most unbelievable thing was that the bird used to follow me in the yard and even made attacks with alarm calls towards me! For some reason the swallow clearly didn't´t like me...