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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica roost under attack: timing and risks in the presence of African Hobbies Falco cuvieri
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 1 abstract A large Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica roost in Pennisetum-covered clearingsamid rainforest in SE Nigeria attracted at least eleven species ofavian predators. Bijlsma R.G. & van den Brink B. 2005, Ardea 93(1): 37-48 Download article download full text (pdf)
Tail streamers and flight performance in Barn Swallows: natural or sexual selection?
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 5 abstract The paper of Evans (1998) published in the journal Nature on the evolution of tail streamers in male Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica is discussed in the light of some methodological problems commited by this author. The conclusions are that the interpretation of Evans’ results must be taken […]
Influence of parental age on the growth of nestling Swallows Hirundo rustica
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 7 abstract The growth (mass) of 67 nestling swallows is studied and factors influencing growth parameters are investigated. The logistic model best fits the data; there is no evidence that clutch-size influences any of the growth parameters. On the other hand, brood effect is highly significant for each of […]
The occurrence of the Barn Owl Tyto alba insacred buildings in central-eastern Poland
Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Science Article 2 abstract The occurrence of Barn Owl Tyto alba isstrongly connected with the presence ofbuildings with suitable apertures for nestingor roosting (de Bruijn 1994, Shawyer1994). In Poland this species breeds mainlyin tall sacred buildings (Kopij 1990,Kitowski 1999). The main reason for theBarn Owl population decline is loss ofsuitable breeding […]
Heart rate and the rate of oxygen consumption of flying and walking barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) and bar-headed geese (Anser indicus)
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) Science Article 1 abstract We tested the hypotheses that the relationship between heart rate (fH) and the rate of oxygen consumption (V . O,) differs between walking and flying in geese and that fH and O, have a U-shaped relationship with flight speed. We trained barnacle geese Branta leucopsis (mean mass […]
Density, habitat selection and breeding successof an insular population of Barbary FalconFalco peregrinus pelegrinoides
Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) Science Article 1 abstract We studied density, habitat selection and reproduction of Barbary FalconsFalco peregrinus pelegrinoides on Tenerife Island during 2004 and 2005. Atotal of 26 breeding pairs were counted, all of them occupying naturalcliffs around the island. Density observed was 1.27 pairs/100 km2, andwas positively correlated with cliff availability. Mean […]
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 […]