Category: Passeriformes

Frequency and consequences of feather holes in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 10 abstract The relationship between feather quality, estimated through the prevalence and intensity of feather holes, and the breeding performance and survival of the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica was studied over a 5-year period. In addition, we present some indirect data on the role of chewing lice in producing […]

Breeding biology of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in Algeria, North Africa

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 9 abstract Breeding biology of the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica was compared between the first and second clutches in Annaba, Algeria, in 2001-2003. Swallows nested in different buildings used by humans,including factories,garages,staircasesand balconies in blocks of apartments. 55%-69% of breeding pairs produced two clutches. The average dates of the […]

Swallow censuses in Northwest Germany(1986, 1991 and 1996)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 6 abstract Starting in 1961, from 50-100 villages and settlements in the industrial area of Hannover-Braunschweig (centred on Peine) have been checked at 5-year intervals to count the nesting populationof House Martin Delichon urbica and Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, the method beinga direct nest count. The hitherto stable Barn […]

Body moult and autumn migration in the barn swallow Hirundo rustica: is there a cost of moulting late?

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 4 abstract The timing of moult in birds is thought to be constrained by physiological trade-offs. We studied barn swallows in central Spain to assess whether (a) body moult tends to be temporally separated from migration in adult and first-year birds, (b) it is related to an impaired fattening, […]

Time of roosting of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica at an Irish reedbed during autumn migration.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 8 abstract Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica roosting time was studied at a south-coast Irish reedbed during 2003 to 2006. Roosting time varied between 11 and 35 minutes after sunset. There was no significant difference in roosting time after sunset across years. Roosting time (relative to sunset) was later in […]

Necrophilic behaviour, corpses as nuclei of resting flock formation, and road-kills of Sand Martins Riparia riparia.

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) Science Article 3 abstract Many animal populations are affected by road-kills. In this note I report that corpses of road-killed Sand Martins Riparia riparia attracted conspecifics and thereby increased mortality risk. Close to a lake in northern Greece I observed large numbers of Sand Martins, many of which rested on a […]

Sediment type and breeding strategy of the Bank Swallow Ripariariparia in western Sweden

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) Science Article 2 abstract This paper presents an investigation of the sediment used by the Bank Swallow (Sand Martin) Riparia riparia for the construction of breeding tunnels. Grain-size distribution, bulk density and hydraulic conductivity of breeding-tunnel sediment were investigated at four localities in western Sweden. The investigation shows that the Bank […]

Integrated population monitoring of sandmartin Riparia riparia-an opportunity tomonitor the effects of environmental disastersalong the river Tisza

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) Science Article 1 abstract From January to March 2000, the entire length of the River Tisza suffered an appallingly seriousenvironmental disaster when the collapse of tailings dams belonging to upriver Romaniangold mines caused severe pollution by cyanide and heavy metals. This pollution was the directcause the death of flora and fauna […]

The Nesting Habits of the Baltimore Oriole.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Science Article 2 abstract Of all our beautiful summer residents the Baltimore Oriole (Zcterus galbula) is the most handsome. This statement applies to both form and coloration. Migration records covering twelve years show that these birds come to southern Iowa on dates ranging from April 26 to May 6, and that […]

THE NESLING DIET OF THE IBERIAN AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE CYANOPICA CYANUS COOKI IN SOUTHEASTERN PORTUGAL

Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus) Science Article 5 abstract The Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus is a small sized corvid, weighing around 70g. This species has a remarkable distribution, occurring only in eastern Asia (China, Korea, Mongolia, Japan and Russia) and in south-western Europe, in the Iberian Peninsula Filipe CANARIO et al, Ardeola 49(2), 2002, 283-286 Download […]