10-01
Nest boxes
Does anyone have any information on which nest boxes (both internal & external)
are preferred by swifts? Or is it still to early to say? It would be useful to
know if there is a preference.
Would it be worthwhile having a posting on the website so people could enter
information when they know of boxes that are used?
Thank you for your help. I am a swift fan and find your web site very
interesting.
Daniele Muir
Countryside Ranger
Perth and Kinross Council
Roads Depot
Signal Box Road
Blairgowrie
PH10 6ER
Tel: 01250 874661
Mob: 07919 044346
09-01
Common Swifts in Prague
Yesterday (24th
May 2009) I had an interesting encounter with a Common Swift. They perform
regular flights around the house where I live in Prague. At 13 o'clock a lot of
Swifts appeared near my balcony, which was quite unusual, because they do this
usually in the early morning or evening. I realized that a Common Swift was
regularly flying to the ceiling of my balcony. I ran for the camera and I
managed to take a picture of it. However, the Swift didn't manage to leave my
balcony, it stayed behind the glass shield I have there. The Swift stayed on the
floor of the balcony regularly taking off but always held back by the glass. I
needed to open several of the glass shields of the balcony, and then the Swift
was able to escape.
In past I have
read many times that the Common Swift is not able to take off from the ground
and that it needs human help. This is obviously not true at least Common Swifts
living in Prague have this ability.
Lukas Dobyvatel
e-mail:
lukas.dobyvatel@centrum.cz
07-03
Re:
How do swifts maintain their feathers?
Dear Ellen,
Every now and then one sees a Swift in flight adopt an unusual "hunched" shape.
It has put its bill somewhere deep into its feathers. It loses height, but after
a few seconds it adopts its normal flight posture again. This is the only known
instance of Swift feather care in the air, though most people interpret it as an
attempt to try to get rid of parasitic louse flies.
The feathers of Common Swifts are very hard and stiff, I guess this is an
adaption reducing the need for more thorough care because they cannot care them
as birds do who can sit and clean and preen their feathers. I know of a short
note on Swifts "smoke bathing", something that other birds will do, perhaps to
reduce the parasite load. An observer saw a Common Swift flying through smoke
and it seemed to him that it was done intentionally. But nobody has written
about the problem of lubrication. I have heard from ringers that Swifts feel
very greasy in the hand.
With kind regards,
Ulrich
07-02
How do swifts maintain their feathers?
Dear Ulrich,
While watching this
http://www.beleefdelente.nl/vogel/6 webcam with one eye, I'd like to ask you
a question I was wondering about: as swifts spend almost all of their time in
the air, how do they maintain their feathers?
They don't have to swim, so they don't need to care for keeping the feathers
"water resistant", but maybe, say, a sand bath once in a while as other birds do
would be needed? What is known about that?
Thanks, do take a look at the young swifts at the above site!
Ellen Dieleman
The Netherlands
07-01
Common Swift calendar
Dear Ulrich,
it's Sunday, and I am relaxing. The temperature is over 24 °C here in central
Italy, and I am catching plenty of Common Swifts in my nets, almost all of them
immature. I took a break from ringing and took the chance to look at your
Common Swifts
Calendar website. I was surprised how precise your calendar is when compared
to the results of my netting results.
Assuming that the "main body" arrives in Forlì the 9th of April, and considering
that my area lies 100 kilometers south of Forlì the first non-breeders arrive in
my place on the 14th of May, the big numbers of non-breeders arriving in the
first week of June. If we consider that last year the non-breeders started to go
back to Africa on the 3rd of July and the last birds on the 9th of July your
calendar is completely in line with my netting results. I was really surprised!
Francesco
pierfrancesco.micheloni@infs.it
05-04
Re:
Injured Common Swift
Dear Daniel,
I had two cases of one legged Common Swifts in my colony.
One bird I caught in the net for four years as a no breeder, it always was in
perfect condition, but never succeeded to become a breeder in the colony. I had,
however, several cases, where completely healthy birds didn't become breeders
before the age of four.
Then I had a one legged breeder in Box 7, which raised three nestlings
successfully with its partner.
In the air a missing leg is no handicap at all for a Common Swift. Entering a
nest site is difficult, and in a fight a one legged individual doesn't have the
slightest chance.
Greetings
Erich
05-03
Injured Common Swift
Injured Swift.
A swift was brought to me (I'm a vet). The swift had been entangled in a fishing
line. The right legs circulation has probably been cut-off too long and I fear
that the bird will loose it's leg. The
line has caused a sore which is infected which I'm treating with antibiotics.
Since they spend almost their entire lives in the air I believe it wont be much
of a problem with just one leg. The question is if a one-legged swift will ever
be able to breed again? Does anybody know how big use the feet are when landing?
I suppose they fill some sort of function, otherwise evolution would have made
the swifts leg-less (or maybe that's where we're going?). If somebody has a
clue, please reply.
Daniel, Sweden
daniel@kalmardjursjukhus.se
05-02
Re:
Seasonal change in number of feathers
To my knowledge the number of feathers on a swift has not been determined and no
seasonal change looked for.
The subject of seasonal change in the number of regular (contour and flight)
feathers is a bit unsure. Some very old data (by A. Wetmore) seemed to suggest
that there were more feathers in the winter than summer. This seemed logical as
there would be an advantage to have more and better insulation in the winter.
However, later studies (pteryolograpy) of the number and distribution of
feathers using flat skin preparations and soft x-rays or staining techniques to
show (and count) the feather bases in the skin has show some rather diagnostic
patterns of feather arrangement and very little variation in the pattern or
number. This suggests that earlier work that purported to show seasonal changes
may have been in error, or the technique used was not accurate enough and the
errors in counting were the basis for the seeming seasonal changes. The long
and short of it now seems that, except for possible increases in some down
feathers in the apteria, there should be no seasonal difference in the number of
feathers for any (?) bird species, or at least for any that have been examined
carefully. Thus I doubt that a swift has any seasonal difference in the number
of feathers although no counts have been made.
C. T. Collins
ccollins@csulb.edu
05-01
Seasonal change in number of feathers
I have a question regarding the number of feathers.
Are there studies available about the number of feathers at summer compared to
winter?
e.g. passer domesticus has during summer 3.550 feathers and at winter roughly 400
less.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards
Manfred Köhler
Spatzenäckerweg 9
D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen
04-05
Usual
nest site
hi all
Today I discovered what may be an unusual Swift nest site. I was filling my car
with petrol when a Swift flew up to a gap between the canopy and a supporting
leg. This isnt on the edge but a metre or more in from the edge.
I also agree that Swifts dont care who is watching them fly to their nest. One
site I go to to look at bats has many swifts nesting. I stand against a wall
with the entrance 60 cm above my head.
Mark
N Ireland
04-04
First
two years be in the sky?
Hello,
a friend of mine told me that swifts will his first two years be in the sky. Is
this right? If this is right, how do they sleep?
Hope you can send me an answer if this is right or wrong!
Kind regards,
Irene Tesink
04-03
Re:
How to tell the sex of a Swift?
Taz,
Common Swifts look alike. Their call is different though. The higher swee is
from the female, the lower from the male.
Ulrich
04-02
How
to tell the sex of a Swift?
Does anyone know how to tell the sex of a Swift, whether it is a male or female.
Any kind information are welcome. Please email to
siwkcj@hotmail.com
Cheers
Taz
04-01
Carrion Crow predation?
In 30th of April I observed a Carrion Crow catch in flight a Common Swift in
Rome. Does someone know of similar cases?
Thank you in advance.
Fulvio Fraticelli
Italy, Rome
03-06
Re:
Afrikaans for swift?
The Afrikaans name is Europese Windswael.
Ulrich
03-05
Afrikaans for swift?
I would like to know the word for swift in Africa - for example - Afrikaans?
Swahili? other southern African languages I want to name my new boat 'Swift' and
it will be sailed at Knysna S. Africa
Many thanks
John Fowler - UK
03-04
How
to get it survive
Dear Ulrich and swift supporters,
I write from a village near Rome, we have several hundred Swift nesting every
year in our village down town. Several times we found some young, this time was
my children that collect a young Swift. I am feeding it since a week, but I
recognize that I will be unable to keep the correct weight/body development
ratio since there are no rules imposed by the bird, it eat as much food as I
provide to it. Now I suppose we are out of the emergence and I would like to
leave the bird in a specialized center. The feather state seems good, my
impression is that the bird is a little overweight and this could be the cause
of the drop from the nest. Please, lets me get in touch with a professional
Swift rescuer from my area (Rome and surrounding). I will thank in advance any
of them that could contact me by e-mail
vincenzo@caspur.it.
Best regards
Vincenzo
03-03
Re:
Nest competition
Stan,
Common Swifts are very faithful to their nesting places, they will return to the
original site for many years. A replacement of a nest box should be exactly at
the same location. In competition with starlings, anything may happen: the
Swifts wait until the starlings leave, but not if they bred in the nest site
before, then they will occupy the nest box and may fight the starlings or just
wait until they give up. In a fight, the Starling may win, or the Swift.
In Switzerland Theodor Weiss created a nest box with a special blockade to
prevent access by starlings. This narrowed the entrance between the box and the
nest down to 35 mm over a length of 10 cm. The Swifts pass through without
difficulty, but the starlings are unable to crawl through it. Here is are two
pictures from inside such a nest box so that you can get an impression.
Good luck.
Ulrich
03-02
Nest competition
Hello,
Two years ago, I placed a (triple) nest box. Two swifts were flying around every
day. They were coming in for the night, and leaving in the morning.
Unfortunately, that box was a bit too narrow and I could see with my binoculars
that the birds had difficulties to turn back inside. So last year I added a
second (triple) nest box but they continued to come to the old box. They didn't
breed.
Last winter, I removed the old box.
This year, a couple of swifts is back again. But it seems that there is a strong
competition with sparrows and starlings that are nesting close to (or even in
one of the) swift boxes.
Should I do something to reduce the competition ?
Thanks a lot in advance for your answers,
Stan
03-01
Mauersegler- und Schwalbenpopulation
Wir haben eine Frage an alle Mauersegler- und
Schwalbenfreunde. Wir wohnen in Offenbach/Main und haben in den letzten Jahren
einen massiven Rückgang zuerst der Schwalben und nun auch der
Mauerseglerpopulation festgestellt. An Nistmöglichkeiten mangelt es unserer
Meinung nach nicht. Es sieht eher so aus, als kämen in jedem Frühjahr weniger
Individuen zurück. Ist das überall so? Wie sind eure Beobachtungen? Falls das
nicht nur bei uns so ist: Weiß jemand Näheres über die Gründe?
Freundliche Grüße,
Reiner Müller
02-13
Apus
apus feeding
Hello Ulrich,
I feed apus kitten or puppy dryfood. First put it into water, so it will swell,
for 1-2 hours. Feed 2-3 pieces in about 2 hours. the birds do well on it. I
learned this from somebody who runs a bird-hospital. (I'm veterinarian , we do
have Apus every year).
With kind regards,sincerely yours,
Karen Davidse.
02-12
Hand
rearing of Swifts
Hallo Swift lovers!
If I may, I would like to kindly ask all goodhearted people who find a Swift to
please hand it quickly over to a specialist in rearing this very special and
fascinating kind of bird. Swifts can only survive in the air, when they have
been fed the right food (special crickets) in a very rigid time plan and
weight-gaining control and many other things like never being carried in the
bare hand (its life depends on the quality of its feathers since once in the air
it will remain for years there) and many other details. The rearing of Swifts is
a very hard and specialized full-time job and if this job is not done correctly,
the Swift may loose his wing feathers within some days after take-off, when
eating only air plankton, and it will fall down to certain dead. Minced meat,
worms, cat or dog food and a lot of other things that people feed them will
cause irreversible damage to its bones and liver and the terrible things about
it is, that the goodhearted person who reared the bird will believe that the
rearing was successfully since the bird flew away. The tragedy will then occur
in the week after take-off.
Clarice Allemann,
Switzerland
02-11
Re:
Fientes
du martinet
Julia:
This sounds okay, but it is always hard to get sure from an email. Here is a
French organization you can get help from, and also a help number in France:
Claire Ménissier Documentation / "Téléphone Rouge"
La Hulotte
08240 BOULT AUX BOIS
tél. 03.24.30.01.30
fax 03.24.30.21.01
email : documentation@lahulotte.fr
Bonne chance!
Ulrich
02-10
Fientes
du martinet
Hello,
I'm trying to save a young Swift (about 15 days old, I suppose). I'm feeding it
minced beef mixed with some dry insects I bought in a specialist pet shop. I'm
worried by its droppings. They are green/brown ringed with white. Not really
liquid but a little bit wet. Is that okay or not?
If it isn't, what can I do? Thank you very much if you can help me to do the
right thing with this little bird.
Julia Boulon
02-09
Re: Re: Martinets noirs tombés de leur nid
Hello Ulrich,
Tomorrow I will bring the swift babies to the Centre de soins of the LPO Alsace.
My feeding let them survive but it will be better for them that specialists take
care of them to make sure they will be able to survive in the wilderness.
Regards
Viviane
02-08
Re: Martinets noirs tombés de leur nid
Viviane, if you can put them back to their old nest, there's
a good chance that the parents will feed them again, if they haven't been too
long outside. Swift parents only feed
the young in the nest.
If possible, avoid rearing them by hand, because it is a hard job. If you have
to, you will find some advice on the website (link "rearing by hand"). There are
more papers about rearing by hand, see the bibliography in the website (key 45),
especially "Madame martinet" written by Dominique Stree.
Measure their weight every day. If you give vitamins, do it only after following
the instructions so you don't give an overdose! Take care that the feathers do
not get dirtied by food or faeces, and clean them carefully if they do. Birds
with clean feathers can fly for more than two years without any interruption.
The feathers must grow perfectly, because if they have irregularities, the bird
will not be able to survive in the wild.
There is also a help-line run by la Hulotte in France:
Claire Ménissier Documentation / "Téléphone Rouge"
La Hulotte
08240 BOULT AUX BOIS
tél. 03.24.30.01.30
fax 03.24.30.21.01
email : documentation@lahulotte.fr
Good luck
Ulrich
02-07
Martinets noirs tombés de leur nid
Bonjour,
Des martinets noirs nichent tous les ans sous les tuiles du bord du toit de
notre maison. Beaucoup d'oisillons tombent, tous les ans, de ces nids très
élevés car ils sont sous le pignon de la maison (10- 12 mètres).
Deux oisillons ont atterris sur le sol, vivants et apparemment sans blessure. Je
les ai placé dans un nid de fortune sur un rebord de fenêtre à 2 mètres sous le
pignon où se trouve leur nid. Mais hélas les parents ne sont pas venus les
nourrir.
Avec quoi les alimenter et, si j'y parviens, ont-ils des chances de survie ?
Par avance je vous remercie
Viviane GUBELMANN
38, rue Rabelais
57200 Sarreguemines
02-06
Re: Odd behaviour
Bernard,
the Swifts are hunting for nest-sites. The yearlings are now coming from Africa
and bringing new life to the colonies. They learn all the breeding places and
also possible breeding places from the non-breeding adults, even old breeding
places, so that they get familiar with the situation. Sometimes they simply
cling on dark spots on walls to check it out. Since the young are not yet ready
to breed (they are not mature yet), this behaviour can have more meanings than
that of searching. This is why they often turn their heads when they cling on
something, and look at their mates rather than into the hole. The "flashing effect" shows nicely how important the white throat is when black birds
live in dark crevices. They need it for orientation, to preen each other and to
feed the young.
Ulrich
02-05
Odd
behaviour
Hi
Yesterday the small ( 6 pairs) colony of swifts that usually nest in the roof of
our office started behaving oddly.
For most of the day they were screaming and flying around the eaves. They
continually landed on the wall and went through some neck stretching and head
turning - which appeared to present a 'flashing' effect as their pale throats
were exposed. Then after a few seconds they would tumble off. This lasted for
several hours.
I did not observe any of them actually entering the roof void. Indeed, whilst I
have noticed their presence here in previous years I have never actually seen
how they enter and leave. One surprising feature was the force with which the
birds were colliding with the wall. The sound of their impact was clearly
audible from 20 yards away. Could our landlord have blocked their entry in some
way - and that explains it?
They have not returned yet today.
Regards
Bernard Hendy
02-04
Late
Arrivals??
Hello
Each year we have monitored the spring arrival of swifts to here in Birmingham
England around the 1st to the 6th May.
Apart from 1 brief visitor who has since moved on we have not seen any what so
ever and this is a little disturbing. Has anyone any ideas??
Simon
02-03
Re: An injured swift
If primary flight feathers are broken or
missing, the Swift will not be able to live in the wild again.
The Common Swift needs strong, healthy wings because it is permanently in the
air before and after the breeding season. Flight muscles get weak when the bird
cannot exercise them and if you try to set it free after some weeks or months,
it will not be able to fly or feed itself. In this case it would be better to
kill the bird.
I am very sorry to have to advise that, but it may be in the bird's best
interests. All the best to you and thank you for caring about the bird.
Ulrich
02-02
An injured swift
Hi! I've found your e-mail on your web site (http://commonswift.org/) when i was searching for Swifts through
internet. My friend has found an injured Swift. She is a veterinarian. As she
told me, the Swift is injured by a crow. Some of the feathers on both wings are
missing and this prevents the Swift from flying. She wonders how she can feed
the Swift until it is capable of flying again?
Thanks for your consideration.
Oguz Mulayim
02-01
First
arrivals
Congratulations on your website about swifts!
I have a little information: today, april 12th 2002, firsts swifts are arrived
in the sky of Forlì and Ravenna, north-east Italy, at 45° north; they are
arrived on final stage of big atmospheric disturbance.
bye
A. Belosi
01-20
Scandinavian names of the swift
I
wonder if the Danish mursvale
(swallow of the walls) is the swift (Apus apus) or the same bird as the
Norwegian mursvale (Hirundo pyrrhonota).
It is not easy to know, because :
- people are prone to confuse swifts and swallows and some
dictionaries are very unclear.
- Scandinavian language are very close to each others, but foreign
influences can have created discrepancies.
So, I am sure that swift in Scandinavian is
Danish : mursejler (cf German Mauersegler)
Norwegian : tårnseiler
Swedish : tornseglare, tornsvala
for mursvale, I do not know. So, if someone can help, thanks in advance.
Thanks for sending a copy of the answer to
jany.quintard@free.fr
Jany
01-19
Bells
I have it in mind to build nest boxes behind
the louvres of the tower in the local church. This could support a large colony
and substitute for other sites which have disappeared. But will the birds be
disturbed by bell ringing? Does anyone have experience of swifts nesting in
bell towers/campanile?
John Turner
01-18
Swift
breeding
Hello,
I'm
Ronnie from Malaysia. I'm doing this swift breeding (giving place for them to stay) for their nest. any good info for attract more
birds, or we can exchange ideas. Hope to hear from you soon.
Bye.
kohloh
01-17
Swift Conservation Project for the Sussex
Ornithological Society
I have been running a Swift Conservation Project for the Sussex
Ornithological Society in Southern England for several years, and also promoting Swift conservation through my work as a local authority (County
Council) ecologist.
I would be extremely grateful for any advice or case studies regarding the use of Swift nestboxes, in particular concrete nesting bricks. I have been
experimenting with different designs of nestbox, including internal and external boxes made of wood, concrete, etc. I have purchased quite a
number of boxes from Schwegler and succeeded in getting 15 of their Swift bricks in a library and 11 in an office building. Others are in the
planning stage. This is, to my knowledge, the first time such bricks have been used on public buildings in Britain. I would like to know how
successful they are proving elsewhere. e.g. situations where nestboxes used, types of nestbox, colony sizes supported by nestboxes, etc.
I am currently writing a Guidance Note for Planners and Developers on how to make provision for Swifts (nestboxes, etc) in new developments. Again,
examples of successful nestbox schemes in Europe would be very helpful.
I have a pair of Swifts nesting in a nestbox in my house (loft) in Portsmouth which I have been observing closely for two years using
infra-red cameras. If you are interested, I have placed a selection of this summer's photographs on the Sussex Ornithological Society's website:
http://www.susos.org.uk Click on "Pictures".
I would be very pleased to hear from you. Please do pass this on to anyone else who may be able to offer me some advice/case studies regarding
nestboxes.
Very many thanks.
Graham Roberts
Sussex Ornithological Society Swift Project Co-ordinator
3 Carmarthen Avenue
Drayton
Portsmouth
PO6 2AG
England
01-16
Aerial roosting
Hi,
It's commonly known that swifts often spend nights on the wing. It is called "aerial roosting". Apart from Apus apus, this phenomenon can also
occur in the alpine and pallid swifts, and perhaps in some other species. But are the swifts unique in this respect? I'm interested if there are any
other birds which sleep in the air. Perhaps you know something about it?
Kind regards,
Norbert
01-15
Re:
Vencejo??
In reply to
Vencejo
posted by
J. Bargallò
Dear Jordi,
Thank you for the new pictures, I'll choose some for the website. I'll add your spanish message to the blackboard. Would you pls write a
short spanish message that all find a good end? I will add that, too.
Thank you
Hasta la vista
Ulrich
01-14
cswift visits again
Hello again
like on Tuesday evening, around the same time a cswift entered our living room right now, this time at the
south side. Wednesday evening i could
spot a group of them at this window side, so they maybe frequent here or the
nonbreaders look desperately for breeding places. I think in checking with the landlord if there's a possibility to organize this on the roof. Even
found some sounds to help them to orientate that way to find this. As far as i know there's a well organized bird-watcher group here in Cologne, so
I'm
looking at least forward to further information.
Greetings
Birgitta Hoffmann
01-13
Swifts in Granada
I recently visited the Alhambra in Granada and was amazed at the number of
Swifts flying low in the courts of the palaces. I believe that they nest in the plasterwork of the famous Lion Court.
Does anyone know if swifts were there at the time of the Nasrids (13th century) and, if so, were they welcome visitors or treated as a nuisance.
I think your Website is excellent
Martyn Todd
01-12
Unexpected
visit
Hello
A beautiful apparently healthy and elder cswift entered between 10 and 11 pm our
north side-located room, 26th floor, through an open window. Appearing healthy we took a glove to carry him from underneath the darkest corner at
the heater back to the windowboard, after some minutes of reorientation he
fastly disappeared in the dark. Since many years i could observe them already after the sunset times in this
quarter of the town.
Greetings from Cologne, Germany
Birgitta
01-11
Vencejo
Hola:
El caballero de la foto se ha estrellado contra un cristal de
mi casa. estoy intentando reanimarlo ¿que le puedo dar de comer a parte de
insectos? ¿me podrias dar algùn consejo al respecto?
Muchas gracias Un saludo
J. Bargallò
Barcelona
España
01-10
Flight techniques of the common swift
Hello I am a 56 year old fan of the Swift, and very interested in the bird
of course. One thing I have a faint memory of is reading the information that the Swift does not wave both wings up and down and
backwards in the same time, but waves one wing up and the other one down. This would represent a further evolution step in flying and
contribute to a smoother flight. Does anybody know anything about this or is my memory wrong. As a matter of fact, if you look att a Swift
flying you get the impression that it waves one wing down and the other one up at the same time.
Kind regards
Lars Thelander
Sweden
01-09
Swifts
nesting on our house
Hallo! I live in the middle of Sweden. We have had swifts nesting on
our house for about 10 years at the same place. Is it possible that it is the same birds every year? They came this year 17 May. I think it has been
much fewer swifts. Has anyone else seen the same?
Lars Sahlin
Västerås
Sweden
01-08
Footless Feats: The feet of
Apus
Apus, the generic name of the Common
Swift, means literally “footless”. The early scientists who gave this name to
the species (and the whole family Apodidae) based it on the observation
that the “foot” of a Common Swift is no bigger than a pea when examined by hand.
Furthermore the Common Swift cannot walk the way birds usually walk. It crawls
or drags itself, on a flat surface because its legs, feet, and toes are designed
for clinging to a vertical surface rather than walking. Because it cannot take
big steps, when a Common Swift walks it moves like a reptile, turning its body
from one side to the other.
However, the feet of some swifts, including
those in Apus, are very strong! These swifts use them for
grasping/fighting, and some fights last for hours. Furthermore, they use their
feet for braking when they land. Arkel (1997) has recorded that the Swift enters
its nest box at 70 km/h. When the entrance hole is big enough, it will fly
straight through it and then must land on its feet at high speed. Its feet
therefore have a fraction of a second to bring to rest a mass of about 35-50
grams moving at 70 km/h. Even if the bird uses an upward curve to reduce the
force of the landing, its feet must still absorb a considerable impact. When the
shape of the nest site does not allow these techniques the feet have to stand a
seemingly impossible pressure of about 40 kg, raising the question of exactly
how the Swift achieves this.
Please help to answer this question.
We must examine the structure of the foot and
leg and the whole process of reducing speed and landing. In my nestbox, for
example, the Swifts touch the outer wall (probably with their tailfeathers)
before they enter (see image in the link “Colonies”), but they do it so fast
that the human eye cannot follow it. Filming/videotaping at high speeds would be
extremely helpful.
Any help is welcome to contribute to this
investigation, and serious papers on this problem can be published in APUSlife.
U.Tigges
01-07
Re:
Martinet Noir blessé
In reply to
Martinet Noir blessé posted by
Erik Ferrer on June 03, 2001
Voir www.lahulotte.fr,
puis rubrique › Questions nature › J'ai trouvé un Martinet à terre, que faire!
01-06
Re:
Martinet Noir blessé
In reply to
Martinet Noir blessé posted by Erik Ferrer
on June 03, 2001
Dear Erik, we read on the list you are trying
to rescue a swift with a broken wing. We have some experience in rescuing these
birds, as we usually feed them from the very youngness (we are even trying to
feed a pullus found still hatching, it is now three days old: let's hope!).
Adults are very difficult to manage, they usually starve quickly before the
fracture can be corrected. Anyway, you should keep it very quite, and beware the
feathers do
not decay; a good solution could be to keep it in a kind of paper tube, with
head, anus and feet protruding.
Food: wax worms and meal worms, and many vitamins, calcium, minerals.
But, first of all: are you quite sure the wing is broken? In our experience,
a swift with broken wing does not try to fly anyway, nor a few meters; may be a
collision occurred, without a real fracture...
Swifts should be brought to an open place without cars, dogs or water, and
thrown in the air: this is, in many cases, enough to enable them flying again:
try!
Paola Verganti and Guido de Filippo
LAC - Italian League against hunting
lacmi@anticaccia.it
01-05
Martinet Noir blessé
Posted by
Erik Ferrer on June 03, 2001
Bonjour, Le 24/05/2001 à 14h00, j'ai ramassé
un Martinet Noir jeune - adulte sur un trotoir dans Bordeaux (Gironde-France). A
ce moment: Il a l'os de l'aile gauche cassée. La plaie se situe à 2 cm du corps.
Les ligaments et les muscles ne semblent pas touchés. Le jour mème, un
vétérinaire lui met une atèle (une fine languette de bois entourée et fixée de
sparadra). Elle me conseille de le garder au calme 15 jours. Il est mis dans une
cage : il supporte mal et reste accroché à longueur de journée aux barreaux du
plafond. Un oiseleur me conseille de lui donner du steak haché. En effet, il
adore assorti de quelques mouches qu'on lui assome parfois. Depuis le 30/05, il
passe son temps hors de la cage sur un torchon. Je le sors dans le jardin car il
tente des décolages. Hélas, bien que volant droit, il tombe chaque fois. une
raison d'hygiène de l'oiseau afin que sa plaie ne s'infecte pas, son atèle est
retirée et la plaie désinfectée. Il est très sage, boit quand on lui présente de
l'eau et cherche à attrapper les petites boulettes de viande qu'on lui approche
du bec. Il dort parfois dans ma main. En bref, je n'aurais jamais cru qu'un
animal sauvage tel que lui soit aussi docile. 3 problèmes pour lesquels j'ai
besoin de votre aide : 1. Ses serres sont figées. Il ne peut plus s'en servir.
Pourquoi ? Est-ce dû à l'alimentation, au fait qu'il ait séjourné dans une cage
? 2. Il dort beaucoup trop la journée. 3. L'os n'a pas l'air de s'être ressoudé,
il tient son aile blessée correctement au repos et pendant les 2 secondes que
durent ses vols (qui ressemblent plus à des chutes) mais il semble un peu géné.
Va-t-il revoler ? En vous remerciant par avance de votre l'attention, je reste à
votre disposition pour plus d'informations.
Erik FERRER
Mora 24 Ans
Bordeaux, FRANCE
ricopanzani@free.fr
01-04
Is the
swift fastest bird in the world
Posted by
matthewg on April 09, 2001
Please could you tell me if the swift is the
fastest bird in the world. Or is it the Peregine falcon appreciate if you could
E-mail back and tell me!!!!
matthewg@freemail.absa.co.za
01-03
Swifts
at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Posted by
Yosef
Cornfeld on March 24, 2001
There
is a flock of swifts that nests in the cracks of the Holy Western
Wall
in Jerusalem, Judaism's holiest site. They arrive in late February -
Feb. 26 this year, and stay until the beginning of June. During their stay they circle above the heads of those
praying, sometimes at head level or
lower. The flock numbers about 40 to 60. They start their
circling
together with the first prayers at sunrise, sometimes circling
for
several hours in the morning, and then they come back in late
afternoon
for the afternoon and evening prayers. Sometimes the local
pidgeons
join them in their flights, but of course they can't keep up.
Usually
this behavior of swifts is called playing, but at least for
this
flock I think that rather than playing that they are praying.
Does any one else have sightings of similarly spiritual swifts?
Rabbi Yosef Cornfeld
67
Jewish Quarter Rd.
Old
City, Jerusalem, Israel
cornfeld@netvision.net.il
01-02
Apus
in Africa
Posted by
Walther,
Bruno Andreas on March 24, 2001
Dear
Sir,
I
am interested in the migration of swifts in Africa. Do you have
information
about that?
Bruno Walther
Zoologisk
Museum
Kobenhavns
Universitet
Universitetsparken
15
DK
2100 Kobenhavn Ø
Denmark
Email:
bawalther@zmuc.ku.dk
01-01
How
to farm swift
Posted by
Zhang
Zhi Xiong on January 12, 2001
I need complete information about how to farm edible-nest-making swifts at
home, so can anyone tell me where to find it? I don't know what the correct species is, but in my region many people have farmed them for their nests.
00-17
Re:
Swifts... where have they gone?
In reply to
Swifts...
where have they gone posted by
Kenneth & Susan Mutti-Grandchamp
on September 15, 2000.
Nach den mir vorliegenden Informationen haben sich diejenigen Mauersegler,
die die Schlechtwetterphase überlebt haben, rasch wieder erholt. Der Abzug
ging bei uns völlig normal vonstatten. Am 4.10. habe ich die wohl endgültig
letzten 3-4 Mauersegler ziehend über der Wasserscheide/Gurnigel beobachtet.
Hans Schmid
Schweiz. Vogelwarte
CH-6204 Sempach
00-16
My Swifts aren't leaving
Posted on October 3, 2000
I've had chimney swifts for seven years (I live in Central Virginia) and
they always leave in August. It's now October and they're still here. What's
going on?
00-15
Re: Swifts of
Portland, OR
In reply to
Swifts
of Portland, OR posted by Shoshana Schachnes on
September 28, 2000.
The swift roost in Portland is one for Vaux's Swifts, not Chimney Swifts.
They gather there in pre-migration/ post breeding aggregations. I have been to the site on two occasions and there were about 30,000 birds entering the
roost by our calculation. The site is a huge chimney of a school so it will accomodate a large flock. There is a similar site in the center of Los
Angeles which starts building up in numbers slightly after that one in Portland so there may well be a gradual shifting south of the birds from one
large roost to another before heading further south for the winter. We are not sure exactly where they end up as they overlap with resident populations
in Central America. The Chimney Swift does the same sort of thing in Eastern USA prior to a major over-the-gulf migration that ends up in South
America (Peru).
C. Collins
00-14
Swifts of
Portland, OR
Posted by Shoshana Schachnes on
September 28, 2000.
I live in Portland, Oregon and last night witnessed a Swift phenomenon that
seems to happen here annually during the late summer/early fall. There is a
school in the Northwest part of town with a brick chimney that attracts
thousands of these little guys every evening at dusk. Do you know of this?
Why Portland?
Why the chimney?
Shoshana Schachnes
00-13
Swifts...
where have they gone?
Posted by
Kenneth & Susan Mutti-Grandchamp
on September 15, 2000.
This year, I expected the swifts to leave the skies over
Geneva, Switzerland around the same time as last year, i.e. the 24th of July.
However, we had a very nasty week of cold weather in mid- July, and we even had an article in "The
Tribune de Genève" mentioning the fact that Apus' where being found and sent to the Museum
of natural history weighing
half as much as they should....they where dying of hunger.
Sure enough, the birds left about 1-2 weeks after the 24th of July, probably to catch up on their
wight. Would that
be correct ?
Best Regards,
Ken.
Kenneth & Susan Mutti-Grandchamp
31, ch. des Grangettes
1224 Chene-Bougeries
Geneva, Switzerland.
Tel/Fax: +41 22 349.62.69
Email:
kgrandch@worldcom.ch
Web:
http://home.worldcom.ch/kgrandch/
00-12
Re:
Ancestry of the Swift
In reply to
Ancestry
of the Swift posted by
Graham White
on July 24, 2000.
With respect to the ancestry of swifts, I can
safely say that there is no evidence that they have anything in common with
hawks, other than they are both birds! I have never even seen a suggestion
that they are closely related. The most commonly held view is that swifts
and hummingbirds share a remote ancestry. It is back at the limits of the
resolving power of such techniques as DNA-DNA hybridizaton. Neither group
can be shown to be a closer relative to any other birds than to eachother.
I am not really happy with this but no better suggestions are available.
There are two fossil bird groups which seem to be related to the swifts.
These are the Aegialornithidae and Jungornithidae. The Aegialornithidae
seem to be closest to the treeswifts among the modern swifts. The split
off of the hummingbirds was back in the Eocene. There is a hint that the
caprimulgidae might have some tie in there as well, a suggestion much more
appealing to me. However, it is safe to say that the affinities of the swifts
(and hummingbirds) to other orders of birds is, at present, a safely buried
secret of the fossil history of birds.
C. Collins
00-11
Ancestry
of the Swift
Posted by
Graham
White on July 24, 2000.
Some years ago I read an article which stated
that swifts were more closely related to hawks than they were to other
swift-like birds, for example swallows. Now somebody else tells me that this is
not true. Can you clarify this situation.
Many thanks
Graham
00-10
Re: Wir haben vor ein paar Tagen einen Mauersegler gefunden
In reply to
Wir haben vor ein paar Tagen einen Mauersegler gefunden
posted by
Daniel on July 14, 2000.
Ich rate Dir dringend davon ab, einen Mauersegler im Haus zu halten.Mauersegler sind nur dazu geschaffen zu fliegen. Sie können nicht in einem
Käfig sitzen. Sie können gar nicht richtig "sitzen". Da sie immer nur fliegen, haben sie keine Sitzfüße mehr. Sie können nicht auf einer Stange
sitzen, sonden sich nur anhängen. Hängen sie zu lange, entzünden sich jedoch die Füße wegen der Überbelastung. Mauersegler landen nur während der
Brutzeit in ihren Höhlen, sonst fliegen sie Tag und Nacht, im Sommer und im Winter.
Mauersegler fressen normalerweise ausschließlich im Fluge, sie jagen fliegende Insekten. Insofern ist das Futter schwer zu beschaffen. Es gibt
im Handel Futter für Insekenfresser, doch das sollte ergänzt werden, genaues findest Du in der Homepage.
Am besten ist es, wenn Du den Mauersegler so lange betreust, bis er fliegen kann und ihn dann frei lässt. Er wird dann flügge sein, wenn die
Flügelfedern 16 cm lang sind. Ein Tierarzt kann Dir sagen, wann es soweit ist. Die Flügel überragen dann den Schwanz um ein paar Zentimeter.
Ulrich T.
00-09
Wir haben vor ein paar Tagen einen Mauersegler gefunden
Posted by
Daniel
on July 14, 2000.
Hi!
Wir haben vor ein paar Tagen einen Mauersegler gefunden, ein kleiner...der
ist gesund und frißt und wir würden ihn gerne behalten, wäre das möglich??
write back!
Daniel
foreversmyle@talknet.de
00-08
Segleraufzucht
/ Altersbestimmung
Posted by
Fritze Schüller on June 25, 2000.
Ich habe zur Zeit einen jungen Mauersegler, von dem ich gern wüßte, wie
alt er in etwa jetzt ist. Das Erwachsenengefieder ist am Kopf weitgehendst voll ausgebildet, ebenso Schwanz und Schwungfedern (Federn
stecken dort noch etwa zu einem Drittel in ihren Hülsen), der Vogel putzt sich selbständig, nimmt bei jeder Mahlzeit bis zu 7 erbsengroße
Portionen Futter an.
Fritze Schüller
00-07
Recordings of songs of different swifts
Posted by Norbert Ryszczuk
on 25 June 2000.
Hi,
I would like to collect recordings of as many species of Apodidae and
Hemiprocnidae as possible. Could you tell me where I can find them? There are many cassette tapes and cds available but which ones include songs of
swifts? Perhaps there is a list of the cassettes and cds together with their
contents in Internet? I am interested in any information concerning this topic.
Best regards,
Norbert Ryszczuk
00-06
Re: Malaria wird von ca 50 verschiedenen
Unterarten Anopheles-Mücken
übertragen
In reply to Malaria wird von ca 50 verschiedenen
Unterarten Anopheles-Mücken
übertragen posted by cadwork@gmx.net
Das
Brutgebiet der Mauersegler (Apus apus) umfaßt Europa und Nordasien. In
Amerika kommt er nicht vor. In Afrika brütet er nur in einem ca. 100 km breiten
Streifen an den Küsten von Marokko bis Tunesien. In anderen Gebieten ansiedeln
kann man ihn nicht. Er verbringt jedoch die gesamte Zeit außerhalb der
Brutsaison im afrikanischen Verbreitungsgebiet von sogenannten Malaria-Mücken.
Viele andere Seglerarten leben ganzjährig in von Malaria bedrohten Ländern. Sie
alle sind - wie der Mauersegler auch - Prädatoren von Fluginsekten. Zu ihrem
Nahrungsspektrum zählen auch Anopheles-Mücken.
U. Tigges
00-05
Malaria wird von ca 50 verschiedenen
Unterarten Anopheles-Mücken
übertragen
Posted by cadwork@gmx.net
on Fri, 23 June 2000.
Malaria wird von ca. 50 verschiedenen
Unterarten der Anopheles-Mücken übertragen. Der Lebenszyklus der Parasiten
wechselt nur zwischen Mücke und Mensch. Einer der verzweifelten Versuche, die
Krankheit einzudämmen, ist, die Mücken zu bekämpfen, zumeist mit giftigen und
teuren Chemikalien (früher mit DDT). Würde es Sinn machen, den Mauersegler
gezielt in bestimmten Regionen anzusiedeln, um die Malariamücken und andere
krankheitsübertragende Fluginsekten zu kontrollieren oder wenigstens zu
dezimieren?
Gemäss der Verbreitungskarte "Buch der
Vogelwelt", Verlag Das Beste, 1995 ist der Vogel in Amerika überhaupt
nicht ansässig, stimmt das wirklich? Vielleicht wissen Sie noch weitere
Vogelarten, die eine Rolle in dem Puzzle zur Ausrottung der Malaria spielen könnten.
Ein Vorschlag, Fledermäuse anzusiedeln, wurde von der Fachgemeinde neulich
verworfen, weil sie angeblich wieder andere Krankheiten übertragen können.
Danke.
Malte
00-04
Re: Concern for
swifts
In reply to Concern
for swifts posted by Mark Smyth
I have just found a flyer from 'Concern for Swifts'. Here are the details of those giving advise:
JAKE ALLSOP - general enquiries - (44) 1353-740540
CHRIS MEAD - the Press & nest boxes - (44) 1760-756466
JULIAN LIMENTANI - architectural queries - (44) 1480-461101
BILL MURRELLS - building queries - (44) 1353-662762
STEVE KEIGHTLEY - tiles for swifts - (44) 1205-290233
MICHAEL WOOD - wall unit - (44) 1223-315370
Mark
Northern Ireland
00-03
Concern for
swifts
Posted by
Mark Smyth
on June 20, 2000.
Hi there, I am trying to get in contact with a group of people in the UK
called 'concern for swifts'.
Mark Smyth
thebatman@btinternet.com
Northern Ireland
00-02
Can anyone give me more information about how position affects the
breeding success of Apus apus?
Posted by Hans Remmen, Tilburg
on June 9, 2000.
Can anyone give me more information about how position affects the
breeding success of Apus apus? Are birds nesting under roof-tiles facing south, south-west, and west as succesful as those with nests
facing north, north-east, and east? When the weather gets warmer young not fully grown birds can be found in the streets.
I am very interested in any information on this subject.
Thank you.
Hans Remmen
Tilburg, The Netherlands
00-01
Longest
time in flight
Posted by Andrew
Onslow on March 23, 2000.
What is the longest known time for a swift to stay in flight for?
99-16
Re: How
dangerous really are Hobbies to healthy adult swifts?
In
reply to: How dangerous really are Hobbies to healthy
adult swifts? posted by Kent Justus
Despite what is said on
the webpage, Falco subbuteo preys on Apus
apus (I'm going to change the webpage on this point). After research in the
rural state of Brandenburg 1976-1999 (n=877) and the urban state of Berlin 1982
(n=118) in Germany, the percentage of Swallows and Swifts eaten by falcons was
recorded
as follows:
Swallows and martins in
Brandenburg 36,2%, in Berlin 9,3%.
Common Swift in
Brandenburg 5,9%, in Berlin 9,3%.
Sources: GAWLIK, H.
& W. OTTO (1982): Zur Ernährung Berliner Baumfalken
(Falco subbuteo). PICA 06: 54-59
SÖMMER, P. &
LANGGEMACH, TH. (1999): Materialien zu einer Avifauna Brandenburgs. Grünbuch
No. 09. Potsdam
Swifts are eaten by
other carnivorous birds too. Falco
subbuteo probably can fly faster than Apus
apus and is manoeuvrable enough to prey on both swallows and swifts. But the
Hobby is not numerous enough to be a serious
threat to its prey species. For more information see the bibliography and search
for key number 71. Schols (APUSlist-No.
1554) gives an interesting description of a chase.
99-14
Re: Where
do swifts in South America make their nests?
In reply to Where
do swifts in South America make their nests? posted by Bob
Murphy
There are quite a few different species of
swift in South America and they all nest in different places. But since it is a
quiz, I think the following answer would be right: behind waterfalls. There are
nests behind many waterfalls in the Americas. One example would be the nests of
Black Swifts (Cypseloides niger borealis) in California. The swifts there fly
thru the falling water to enter caves behind the waterfall. See the bibliography
(e.g. Emily Smith) and search for key number 39.
99-13
Where
do swifts in South America make their nests?
Posted by: Bob
Murphy on Wed, Sep 15, 1999.
Can you tell me where do
swifts in South America make their nests. It is a PBS quiz question today. If
you can provide me that information I would appreciate that. Thank You.
99-12
Re: If a Swift is actually a Humming bird?
In reply to:
If a Swift is actually a Humming bird?
posted by RU45@aol.com.
No, swifts are NOT hummingbirds. These two groups (swifts and
hummingbirds) share some physical characteristics as a shortened basal part of the wing (ie. humerus) and extended outer or hand part of the
wing. They have rapid wing-beats and, particularly the hummingbirds,
can use hovering flight. There are differences in the syrinx and other aspects of their morphology. There are no clear common ancesters to
these two groups and from the DNA-DNA hybridization data, they show no closer affinites toany other group than they do to eachother. However,
their divergence was very early in the history of modern birds and at the limits of detection of this technique. The relationships of these
two groups were bitterly argued about near the start of the 20th century without a strong resolution. To some extent the matter is still open
but commonest view is that they are more closely related to eachother than either is to any other group.
Charles T. Collins
99-11
If a Swift is actually a Humming bird?
From: RU45@aol.com
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 15:56:50 EDT
Can someone tell me please, if a Swift is actually a Humming bird?
Thank you.
99-10
Re:
Is there any evidence that swifts sleep in
the air?
21.07.1999.
In
reply to question: Is there any evidence that swifts sleep in
the air? posted by Werner Denzer.
Yes, Swifts do sleep in the air.
Spallanzani published his observations on this in 1797. In the 20th century
pilots reported that they saw Swifts flying in the dark, and in the ’50s
Weitnauer and Bruderer made closer observations using systematic searches by
airplane and radar. For references, see the bibliography and try the key
„24“ for further research.
Every day at dusk the
non-breeders of some colonies come together, fly around, often with loud
cries, and then fly up into the sky and out of sight. Before disappearing into
the dark, they usually assemble over a fixed piece of territory, which changes
only every couple of years.
Swifts -- especially
non-breeders -- don’t stay in the colony during rainy and cold weather but fly
to areas with better (feeding) conditions, while many of the breeders stay
behind. There they may enter torpor on the nest.
U. Tigges
99-09
Is there any evidence that swifts sleep in
the air?
Is there any evidence that swifts sleep in
the air? Why is it that swifts
disappear from the sky with the last daylight? And where are they on cloudy
days, during rain or thunderstorms? Do they rise above the clouds? From my
own observations I know that swift parents spend the night
in their nest with their nestlings. But the ones that are not breeding - which
seem to be a good many of them - where do they go at night? I would be glad if
anyone could answer my questions.
Thank
you, Werner Denzer
Phone
+49-171-2248966
99-08
Are swifts the most advanced
form of life on earth?
Maybe. Read
http://www.freespeech.org/amygdala/articles/scimaths/swift.htm and decide for yourself. Simon Whitechapel
99-07
Re: Pictures of Apus apus
Posted by
Sergey
on May 24, 1999 at 00:24:21:
In Reply to:
Pictures of Apus
apus posted by
Hannu on October
25, 1998 at 11:16:18:
I have a few pictures on my homepage:
http://bsd.inist.ru/~tsv/index_en.html.
Sergey.
99-06
Re: How to follow a population
Posted by
Sergey
on May 24, 1999 at 00:12:06:
In Reply to:
how to follow
a population posted by
anne
on May 10, 1999 at 01:51:43:
Hi Anne!
I am not a specialist, but I think that you can
test the following way: You may build a several houses (each house for
several nests) and than erect they in different places of your city. So
you can check a population in your swifts colonies.
Sergey.
99-05
Attracting Swifts
Posted by
R.G.Solomon
on May 19, 1999 at 04:48:46:
Has anyone a English translation of the article
by ULRICH TIGGES called Kann
man Mauersegler gezielt ansiedeln ?
99-04
Re: Pictures of Apus apus
Posted by
Blazej
on May 16, 1999 at 12:30:17:
In Reply to: Re:
Pictures
of Apus apus posted by
Blazej
on November 08, 1998 at 07:59:47:
99-03
How
to follow a population
Posted by
anne
on May 10, 1999 at 01:51:43:
Hello,
I am looking for information about how to follow
a population (evolution from year to year) of Apus apus in a big town.
Could somebody help me and tell me about existing methods?
Thanks
99-02
Chimney Swift Removal
Posted by
Wesley
Hough on April 24, 1999 at 20:45:00:
I have recently discovered a large number of birds
in my chimney. I would like to know how to remove them so I can continue
to use the fireplace without fear that I will harm them.
99-01
Palm swift
Posted by
Trudi
Meloche on January 20, 1999 at 16:31:05:
I'm doing a report for school on the African Palm
Swift. Could anyone give me information on how fast this bird flys? Also,
any good web sites with information on this bird? Thanks!
98-21
Flight speed of common swift
Posted by
Kelsey
on December 22, 1998 at 19:12:16:
I need to know the top speed of the common swift
for a school report. can you help?
98-20
Re: Swifts
Posted by
Wunderlich
Joachim on December 10, 1998 at 07:48:09:
In Reply to: Swifts posted by
Hans
Schmid on June 17, 1998 at 07:27:16:
Hi,
wenn Sie ausführliche Informationen über
die Mauersegler (apus apus) haben wollen, empfehle ich ihnen das Buch:
"Das Hanbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas"
(Hrsg.) Gutz von Blotzenstein
Band 9
98-19
I have Apus apus at home. How
to feed him?
Posted by
Maria
Veleva on November 02, 1998 at 15:07:32:
Well, a friend gave me young black swift in very
bad condition - it didn't move, it was only bone and plumage (actualy it's
plumage was not well developed). It was slitly enjured by her cat too.
We thought it will die, but after 3 weeks active feeding and lots of vitamins
it's much better. It can even fly now. It is November and I am afraid it
should live here till the spring. But as soon as it began moving it started
to spat all the meat I gaved it. Now I have a great problem with finding
live food for it. It eats mainly flys and their larvae (it don't like them
much actualy and I think they are not very good for it). It's favorite
food are Gryllus campestris and larvae of Tenebrio (Sorry, I don't know
the English names). It's not easy in Bulgaria to find this kind of food
in the winter. I have my own populations, but for this "beast" they are
too small. In addition it never eat by himself. It never drink by himself
either. It usualy lay right in the food/water I give it. Please, tell me
what else could I give it for food and is it possible to teach it to eat
by itself and HOW? Every advice you could give me will be of a great value
for me and for the bird. Thank you very very much in advance.
Maria
98-18
Re: Apus melba
Posted by
Giovanni
Boano on October 30, 1998 at 07:48:50:
In Reply to:
Apus melba
posted by
Carlos Aranda on June
11, 1998 at 11:51:38:
No, but I know several cities in north western
Italy where Apus melba breed. I can fournish a full list. I am very interested
to know the list of the Spanish cities with a breeding population of Apus
melba and /or Apus pallidus.
by
Giovanni Boano
98-17
Pictures
of Apus apus
Posted by
Hannu
on October 25, 1998 at 11:16:18:
Hi!
I'm about to launch a Swedish homepage
on Apus apus and need pictures of the bird. If you have any, please mail
them to me!
98-16
Increasing Habitat for Chimney
Swift Nesting
Posted by
George
Benua on October 20, 1998 at 19:03:21:
How would I go about construction of a few fake
chimneys to attract more chimney swifts. I have tried to attract purple
martins with no luck. There may not be enough open area for them. My place
is mostly wooded area with rolling terrain and 1-3 acre fields. Any info
in this regard would be appreciated.
98-15
Apus
Posted by
Damir
Dujmesic on August 15, 1998 at 10:30:11:
Hi!
I have the same question like Kenneth. Date when
swifts are "disappearing" is same like in Kenneth's case. My home is in
Croatia, on the coast of Adriatic sea, 20 km west from biggest Croatian
port - Rijeka.
Thank you for answer.
Damir
98-14
Re: Swifts...were have they
gone?
Posted by U. Tigges on July 29, 1998 at 13:03:00:
In Reply to:
Swifts...were
have they gone? posted by
Kenneth
Grandchamp on July 27, 1998 at 01:32:12:
Dear Ken,
to give you a correct answer, you should say
where you are located at. The Swifts leave their nestplaces to deifferent
times at different places. Anothger question: how was the weather on your
birthday? When it was rainy and/or cold, the Swifts probably were away
to avois such bad conditions and will come back, when the weather is clear.
Swifts feed flying insects only and under poor weather conditions,
the insects will not fly.
98-13
Re: common swift
Posted by ruth on July 29, 1998 at 02:58:21:
In Reply to:
common swift
posted by
Sharon on May 22, 1998
at 11:30:02:
hi,
it's very important that you use only tartar
to feed him (because in meat there are as well thyroid gland and when the
swift eat this it could be that he loose the plumage) and you have to do
a drop of RIANIMYL (vitamins) on the tartar peaces.
98-12
Swifts...were
have they gone ?
Posted by
Kenneth
Grandchamp on July 27, 1998 at 01:32:12:
Hello !
For the first time, I have noticed and taken
great pleasure in watching and hearing the swifts zoom round our house
and crying out at each other. The day of my birthday, on the 24 July, I
went out on the balcony to watch them zoom around, and found out to my
dismay that they were GONE !! not a bird in the sky ! I had the sinking
feeling in my stomach that summer was over...but in July ? Can anyone tell
me were they've gone ? Have they returned to Africa ?!
Regards,
Ken.
98-11
Re: Seglerlausfliege
Posted by U. Tigges on June 20, 1998 at 14:41:20:
In Reply to:
Seglerlausfliege
posted by
Eggenberger Hans
on June 16, 1998 at 14:48:37:
Siehe in der Bibliogrtaphie unter Titeln mit dem
Sigel 73. Die Literatur zur Seglerlausfliege Crathaerina pallida ist gekennzeichnet.
In älteren Texten wird der Befall als schädlich beschrieben,
in jüngerer Literatur nicht mehr, mit der Beschränkung, daß
bei schlechtem Wetter (wenig Nahrung schwächere Nestlinge) ein zu
starker Befall tödlich wirken könnte.
98-10
Seglerlausfliege
Posted by
Eggenberger
Hans on June 16, 1998 at 14:48:37:
Ich habe wärend der letzten gut 10 Jahren
eine kleine Seglerkolonie von 7 brütenden Paaren aufgebaut. Dieses
Jahr sind mir das erste mal die Seglerlausfliegen aufgefallen. (10-20 pro
Nest) Die andern Jahre hatte ich keine solchen entdeckt, obwohl ich beinahe
täglich die Nester kontralliert hatte. Woher kommen diese Blutsauger,
wie können sie bekämpft werden, ohne die Jungen und Altvögel
zu gefärden. 2 Jungvögel (ca. 1 Woche alt) habe ich im Nest tot
gefunden. Kann es sein, dass sie wegen der Seglerlausfliege gestorben sind?
Mit freundlichen Grüssen
Hans Eggenberger
98-09
Re: Apus melba
Posted by U. Tigges on June 12, 1998 at 16:28:36:
In Reply to:
Apus melba
posted by
Carlos Aranda on June
11, 1998 at 11:51:38:
I have no specific idea about that. What I know
is that Apus melba enlarges the breeding range up to Freiburg in South
Germany now.
98-08
Apus
melba
Posted by
Carlos
Aranda on June 11, 1998 at 11:51:38:
Do you have an idea about why Apus melba
becomes more and more abundant in cities (at least in Spain) while some
years ago was very unusual??
98-07
Re: Mauersegler Flugroute Europa
- Afrika - Europa
Posted by
Thomas Griesohn-Pflieger
on May 28, 1998 at 05:10:33:
In Reply to:
Mauersegler
Flugroute Europa-Afrika-Europa posted by
Dr.
Kay Schaefer on January 23, 1998 at 07:59:09:
Probier mal: http://www.commonswift.org/
Gruß, tgp
98-06
Re: Common Swift
Posted by U. Tigges on May 24, 1998 at 13:56:47:
In Reply to:
common swift
posted by
Sharon on May 22, 1998
at 11:30:02:
Pls give me your email address
98-05
Common
Swift
Posted by
Sharon
on May 22, 1998 at 11:30:02:
I am in possession of a very young swift which
has obviously fallen from a nest. Although in good condition I am in need
of information as to how to rear it by hand. At the moment it is receiving
small pieces of raw meat. Any information would be extremely helpful.
98-04
Common Swift behaviour/Mauersegler
/ Verhalten
Posted by
Tjabo
Kloppenburg on May 19, 1998 at 15:01:43:
Hi!
I'm searching for scientific documents about
behaviour of Apus apus. Ich suche wissenschaftlich fundierte Infos über
das Verhalten von Mauerseglern. Booktitles and Web-Links are welcome...
tk.
98-03
Re: Nistkästen
Posted by U. Tigges on May 17, 1998 at 14:12:24:
In Reply to: Nistkästen posted by
Isabel
Ullmann on May 14, 1998 at 09:18:48:
Frau Ullmann, die Grundfläche eines Mauerseglernistkastens
ist etwa 25x30 cm. Die Höhe 15 cm. Das Einflugloch kann rund sein
und dann 5 cm im Durchmesser betragen. Sie können auch jetzt noch
einen Nistkasten anbringen. Wenn er an der Stelle des alten Einflugloches
aufgehängt wird, wird er wahrscheinlich sofort vom alten Brutpaar
bezogen werden. U. Tigges
98-02
Nistkästen
Posted by
Isabel
Ullmann on May 14, 1998 at 09:18:48:
Lieber Herr Tigges, leider läßt es
mein System nicht zu, daß ich Ihnen direkt mailen kann, daher versuche
ich es hierüber. Folgendes Problem: Bei uns im tiefergezogenen) Dach
nisteten letztes Jahr Mauersegler. Leider direkt neben dem (für uns
akustisch wie IM) Schlafzimmer... und verursachten einen ganz schönen
Lärm, auch nachts und das wochenlang. Als sie ausgeflogen waren, haben
wir das Loch zugeschäumt. Seit letztem Wochenende sind sie wieder
da und versuchen verzweifelt, wieder ein Nest zu bauen. Zum Glück,
oder auch leider, klappt das jetzt nicht mehr. Ich möchte daher einen
Nistkasten anbringen. Leider lädt sich Ihre Seite "nest boxes" nicht
vollständig! Ich bräuchte aber diese Info dringend! Können
Sie sie mir irgendwie anders zukommen lassen? Denken Sie, es ist jetzt
zu spät, einen Kasten hinzuhängen? Oder werden sie es voraussichtlich
nächstes Jahr wieder versuchen? Ich bin Ihnen für jede Info dankbar!
Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Isabel Ullmann (aus der Nähe von
Heidelberg).
98-01
Mauersegler
Flugroute Europa - Afrika - Europa
Posted by
Dr.
Kay Schaefer on January 23, 1998 at 07:59:09:
Ich hätte gern mehr Informationen und Unterlagen
über die Flugroute der Mauersegler von Europa nach Afrika und zurück.
Dr. Kay Schaefer,
Teutoburgerstr. 14,
50678 Köln,
Tel/Fax: 0221-3404905
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