Swallows away

greysides

I've noticed no swallows around the last few days. They must be gone. I presume that after a certain time of year/temperature they wait for favourable weather and then go. I'm wondering if anyone knows what sort of weather flow is the signal for them to depart.

snaps

They've gone in drips and drabs the last month. I certainly saw a few over the weekend, none at all the last few days. Amazing animals.

leahyl

snaps wrote: »

They've gone in drips and drabs the last month. I certainly saw a few over the weekend, none at all the last few days. Amazing animals.

This is a good sign yes?:pac:

dirtyghettokid

they are quite agile birds... but i am glad when they depart. we get an absolute ton of them up here (they build their nests in the shed) they poop all over the cars (i'm talking 50+ a day)

although, there were a lot less this year, than the last three years i've noticed. i was wondering was this because of climate reasons..

Deep Easterly

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

although, there were a lot less this year, than the last three years i've noticed. i was wondering was this because of climate reasons..

Only a subjective observation but there seemed to be a lot more of them this year flying around the place and in my back yard as against the last few.

Morrisseeee

Do they come back to the same location year after year if they're not 'kicked' out the previous year ?! ie. I have an open shed that I don't mind them using and they've nested in the same spot for the last few years, actually this year they built 3 nests (they're pushing it now :pac:).

greysides

Spotted two today. Youngsters born late according to their host.

Any one with an idea as to what sparks them to go, weather-wise?

I imagine they'd like a tail wind.

dirtyghettokid

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Do they come back to the same location year after year if they're not 'kicked' out the previous year ?! ie. I have an open shed that I don't mind them using and they've nested in the same spot for the last few years, actually this year they built 3 nests (they're pushing it now :pac:).

they are very persistent. we've tried to shoo them away (before they nest) but they keep coming back. they build their nests in the exact same areas every year up here. i'm not sure why there were less this year. the last two years previous were terrible for them! we were getting dive bombed while going outside

Figerty

Deep Easterly wrote: »

Only a subjective observation but there seemed to be a lot more of them this year flying around the place and in my back yard as against the last few.

I never saw as many Swallows as this year. I counted 28 one evening rising and falling over the meadows. It was very stark the increase in population.

Maybe the wet summer and late harvests had something to do with it.
Any time I was out on the tractor they were having great feeding with the flies rising.

alfalad

They do normally come back to the same area/nest and depending on the part of the country will arrive the middle of April and leave the end of September, if there is a nice north west wind they may leave a little early etc depending on if the young are ready to fly. They fly low in bad weather and according to reports it's been bad this summer so that's why you might notice them flying around more. Seeing them go generally means the end of any summer.

kindredspirit

We had so many swallows this year that they became serious pests.

So, we bought Harry and since he's been flying around, no swallows. Yippee!

torrentum

To the best of my knowledge they leave when the insect population starts to decline in the autumn. So it must be just falling temps that is the determining factor in their departure?

vicwatson

kindredspirit wrote: »

We had so many swallows this year that they became serious pests.

So, we bought Harry and since he's been flying around, no swallows. Yippee!

Brilliant and pray tell which pet shop you bought Harry in:rolleyes: