Colony Skurup
|
|
Photographs
and text by Jan Holmgren
Skurup
is situated about 10 km from the south coast of Sweden.
I opened the colony,
with 16 holes in the gable, on 24 June 1990. It is in the centre of the area
where I have studied
Common
Swifts roosting in the foliage of trees since
1982.
Newly fledged Common Swifts migrate southwards (towards Africa) on their
own, mostly without the company of adult birds. In August, some of them choose
to roost during the night in the foliage of trees, or on high masts, like the
one in the left picture. Now, I have seen 63 swifts roost in trees, and 63
swifts roost on the mast. Those roosting on the mast are easiest to observe,
since they often have to make numerous fly-ins towards the mast before they
succeed to perch. Perhaps, some of them may have travelled far, from Finland,
or even from Russia.
The 16 nest boxes can be inspected from
the inside. In 1999, Common Swifts nested in the boxes B12, B14, and B16. One
pair got established in B13, but too late to lay eggs. When Common Swifts are
established as nesting birds, they normally return to the same nest as long as
they live.
The first swift entered box 4 on 28 July 1990. In 1991
two swifts were close to get established in B14 or B15. However, one of them
managed to get into the attic, and I had to catch and release it. After that,
both swifts disappeared. In 1992 one pair had 2 eggs in B12, but the eggs did
not hatch. Since then, young have been raised as follows; 1993: 2 young
in B12, 1994: 2 eggs in B12 never hatched, 1995 2 young in B12, 1996:
2 young in B12, 1997: 3 young in B12, 1998: 1 young in B12, 1999:
2 young in B12, 2 young in B14, 2 young in B16, 2000:2 young in B12, 2
young in B13, 2 young in B14, 2 young in B16.
Two young Common Swifts, about 30 days
old, in B14 1999.
One adult and one young Common Swift in
B16.
Phenological and breeding dates of Common Swifts at a colony in
Skurup (55,4°N 13,5°E) Sweden
© Jan Holmgren
|
Year
|
Box nr
|
1:st arrival
|
2:nd arrival
|
1:st egg
|
2:nd egg
|
3:rd egg
|
1:st hatch
|
2:nd hatch
|
3:rd hatch
|
Mean incub days
|
1:st juv dep
|
2:nd juv dep
|
3:rd
juv dep
|
Mean nest time
|
1:st
ad leave
|
2:nd
ad leave
|
Note
Kullstorlek
|
|
1992
|
B13
|
28/5
|
31/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moved to B12
|
|
B12
|
See B13
|
17/6
|
19/6
|
|
failed
|
failed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
?
|
5/8
|
2 failed
|
|
1993
|
B12
|
11/5
|
15/5
|
24/5
|
25/5
|
|
failed
|
failed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2 failed
|
|
|
|
?
|
12/6
|
|
2/7?
|
7/7?
|
|
|
?
|
14/8
|
|
|
16/8
|
16/8
|
2
|
|
1994
|
B12
|
15/5
|
19/5
|
?
|
3/6
|
|
failed
|
failed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
?
|
1/8
|
2 failed
|
|
1995
|
B12
|
18/5
|
24/5
|
3/6
|
5/6
|
|
23/6?
|
24/6
|
|
19
|
1/8
|
3/8
|
|
40
|
6/8
|
9/8
|
2
|
|
1996
|
B12
|
18/5
|
23/5
|
7/6
|
9/6
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
died
|
|
8/8
|
12/8
|
|
|
18/8
|
18/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
1997
|
B12
|
25/5
|
31/5
|
?
|
11/6
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
|
8/8
|
9/8
|
13/8
|
|
14/8
|
15/8
|
3
|
|
1998
|
B12
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
9/6
|
?
|
|
failed
|
7/7
|
|
|
11/8
|
|
|
|
16/8
|
21/8
|
1+1 failed
|
|
1999
|
B8
|
1/6
|
7/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moved to B14
|
|
B12
|
24/5
|
30/5
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/8
|
2/8
|
|
|
3/8
|
14/8
|
2
|
|
B14
|
See B8
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
26/8
|
26/8
|
|
|
26/8
|
28/8
|
2
|
|
B16
|
29/5
|
31/5
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/8
|
13/8
|
|
|
14/8
|
15/8
|
2
|
|
2000
|
B12
|
19/5
|
23/5
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/8
|
3/8
|
|
|
16/8
|
17/8
|
2
|
|
B13
|
?
|
?
|
13/6
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
13/8
|
14/8
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
|
B14
|
?
|
?
|
13/6
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/8
|
18/8
|
|
|
18/8
|
19/8
|
2
|
|
B16
|
?
|
6/6
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
13/8
|
15/8
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
|
2001
|
B12
|
18/5
|
18/5
|
?
|
1/6
|
?
|
Eggs were ejected, also new 2 eggs ejected 23/7
|
?
|
?
|
3+2 all failed
|
|
B13
|
15/5
|
21/5
|
?
|
?
|
1/6
|
23/6?
|
Only one young, had departed 1/8
|
?
|
?
|
3
|
|
B14
|
22/5
|
6/6
|
17/6
|
?
|
|
Two young 20/7, still in 18/8
|
19/8
|
19/8
|
|
|
?
|
20/8
|
2
|
|
B16
|
28/5
|
1/6
|
13/6
|
?
|
|
Two young 20/7, still in 12/8
|
|
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
|
2002
|
B3
|
11/6
|
11/6
|
25/6
|
27/6
|
|
2 young
|
28/8
|
29/8
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
|
B12
|
17/5
|
19/5
|
27/5
|
29/5
|
31/5
|
2 young 22/6, 1 egg ejected
|
28/7
|
31/7
|
|
|
4/8
|
4/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
B13
|
13/5
|
15/5
|
23/5
|
25/5
|
27/5
|
3 young 18/6
|
25/7
|
26/7
|
28/7
|
|
30/7
|
30/7
|
3
|
|
B14
|
23/5
|
26/5
|
8/6
|
10/6
|
|
2 young 9/7
|
9/8
|
10/8
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
2
|
|
B16
|
30/5
|
1/6
|
11/6
|
13/6
|
15/6
|
3 young 9/7
|
10/8
|
12/8
|
14/8
|
|
?
|
?
|
3
|
|
Year
|
Box nr
|
1:st arrival
|
2:nd arrival
|
1:st egg
|
2:nd egg
|
3:rd egg
|
1:st hatch
|
2:nd hatch
|
3:rd hatch
|
Mean incub days
|
1:st juv dep
|
2:nd juv dep
|
3:rd
juv dep
|
Actual duration of 1st chick stay in nest (departure day
counted)
|
1:st
ad leave
|
2:nd
ad leave
|
Note
Kullstorlek
|
|
2003
|
B3
|
1/6
|
2/6
|
17/6
|
20/6
|
|
5/7
|
|
|
|
18/8
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
2
|
|
B12
|
16/5
|
19/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
Eggs were ejected before 10/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 failed
|
|
|
|
18/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/8
|
18/8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B13
|
22/5
|
22/5
|
29/5
|
31/5
|
2/6
|
3 young 23/6, one died 28/6
|
1/8
|
2/8
|
|
39
|
2/8
|
2/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
B14
|
10/6
|
14/6
|
27/6
|
?
|
|
17/7
|
19/7
|
|
|
30/8
|
?
|
|
44
|
|
|
2
|
|
B16
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
9/6
|
11/6
|
|
28/6
|
|
|
19
|
7/8
|
8/8
|
|
40 39
|
|
|
2
|
|
2004
|
B3
|
28/5
|
28/5
|
4/6
|
6/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/8
|
6/8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B12
|
28/5
|
29/5
|
6/6
|
8/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/8
|
7/8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B13
|
17/5
|
30/5
|
?
|
17/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
13/8
|
14/8
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B14
|
31/5
|
31/5
|
7/6
|
10/6
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
9/8
|
11/8
|
?
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
B16
|
26/5
|
27/5
|
?
|
8/6
|
?
|
27/6?
|
|
|
|
6/8
|
7/8
|
10/8
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
2005
|
B1
|
25/5
|
30/5
|
14/6
|
16/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1+1 failed
|
|
B3
|
16/5
|
23/5
|
30/5?
|
2/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B12
|
24/5
|
26/5
|
8/6
|
10/6
|
12/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
B13
|
14/5
|
21/5
|
1/6
|
3/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B14
|
21/5
|
22/5
|
12/6
|
14/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B16
|
21/5
|
22/5
|
31/5
|
3/6
|
?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
2006
|
B1
|
5/5
|
12/5
|
1/6
|
3/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2/8)
|
(2/8)
|
|
|
6/8
|
6/8
|
(Lund exp)
2
|
|
B3
|
23/5
|
24/5
|
1/6
|
3/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
4/8
|
5/8
|
|
|
5/8
|
7/8
|
2
|
|
B12
|
18/5
|
24/5
|
2/6
|
4/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/8
|
|
|
|
3/8
|
3/8
|
1+1 failed
|
|
B13
|
12/5
|
19/5
|
3/6
|
5/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/8
|
3/8
|
|
|
4/8
|
4/8
|
2
|
|
B14
|
13/5
|
26/5
|
14/6
|
16/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/8
|
18/8
|
|
|
11/8
|
20/8
|
2
|
|
B15
|
2/6
|
5/6
|
18/6
|
20/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
21/8
|
|
|
|
19/8
|
21/8
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Box nr
|
1:st arrival
|
2:nd arrival
|
1:st egg
|
2:nd egg
|
3:rd egg
|
1:st hatch
|
2:nd hatch
|
3:rd hatch
|
Juv
ring date
|
1:st juv dep
|
2:nd juv dep
|
Actual duration of 1st chick stay in nest (departure day
counted)
|
1:st
ad leave
|
2:nd
ad leave
|
Note
Kullstorlek
|
|
2007
|
B1
|
12/5
|
20/5
|
31/5
|
2/6
|
4/6
|
|
|
failed
|
|
3/8
|
6/8
|
|
26/7
|
6/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
B3
|
16/5
|
20/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/7
|
29/7
|
|
5/8
|
6/8
|
2
|
|
B12
|
14/5
|
19/5
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
failed
|
|
26/7
|
29/7
|
|
3/8
|
4/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
B13
|
12/5
|
23/5
|
29/5
|
31/5
|
2/6
|
|
|
failed
|
|
(29/7)
|
(29/7)
|
|
3/8
|
4/8
|
(Lund exp)
2+1 failed
|
|
B15
|
23/5
|
26/5
|
2/6
|
4/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/8
|
4/8
|
|
6/8
|
7/8
|
2
|
|
2008
|
B1
|
25/5
|
25/5
|
2/6
|
5/6
|
8/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/8
|
(Lund exp)
3
|
|
B3
|
15/5
|
16/5
|
23/5
|
25/5
|
27/5
|
|
|
|
|
27/7
|
28/7
|
29/7
|
|
|
3
|
|
B12
|
9/5
|
19/5
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/7
|
|
|
3
|
|
B13
|
16/5
|
25/5
|
2/6
|
4/6
|
6/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/8
|
5/8
|
7/8
|
9/8
|
F arrived 20/5 evict in fight
3
|
|
B15
|
18/5
|
24/5
|
2/6
|
5/6
|
8/6
|
|
24/6
|
3:rd young dead 29/6
|
|
5/8
|
|
8/8
|
9/8
|
2+1 failed
|
|
2009
|
B1
|
10/5
|
18/5
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
28/7
|
27/7
|
(28/7)
|
(28/7)
|
19/7
|
28/7*
|
(Lund exp)
*Logger 28/7
3
|
|
B3
|
16/5
|
19/5
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
18/7
|
28/7
|
28/7
|
29/7
|
28/7*
|
28/7*
|
*Logger 28/7
3
|
|
B12
|
15/5
|
16/5
|
26/5
|
28/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 failed
|
|
|
|
24/6
|
26/6
|
|
|
|
|
10/8
|
21/8
|
22/8
|
|
21/8
|
21/8
|
2 replacement
|
|
B13
|
9/5
|
24/5
|
3/6
|
5/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 failed
|
|
|
|
22/6
|
24/6
|
|
12/7
|
13/7
|
|
10/8
|
22/8
|
22/8
|
41
|
21/8
|
22/8*
|
*Logger 22/8
2 replacement
|
|
B15
|
15/5*
|
21/5
|
2/6
|
4/6
|
|
23/6
|
24/6
|
|
23/7
|
3/8
|
5/8
|
41
|
30/7*
|
4/8*
|
*Logger 20/5 & 4/8
2
|
|
Year
|
Box nr
|
1:st arrival
|
2:nd arrival
|
1:st egg
|
2:nd egg
|
3:rd egg
|
1:st hatch
|
2:nd hatch
|
3:rd hatch
|
Juv
ring date
|
1:st juv dep
|
2:nd juv dep
|
Actual duration of 1st chick stay in nest (departure day
counted)
|
1:st
ad leave
|
2:nd
ad leave
|
Note
Kullstorlek
|
|
2010
|
B1
|
23/5
|
|
6/6
|
8/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B13
|
23/5
|
|
14/6
|
16/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
*Logger
2
|
|
B15
|
26/5
|
|
6/6
|
8/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
*
|
*Logger
2
|
|
2011
|
B11
|
20/5
|
29/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B13
|
20/5
|
21/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B15
|
24/5
|
30/5
|
8/6
|
10/6
|
|
28/6
|
29/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/8
|
12/8*
|
*Logger 12/8
2
|
|
2012
|
B11
|
20/5
|
22/5
|
29/5
|
?
|
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
28/7
|
29/7
|
|
26/7
|
28/7
|
2
|
|
B15
|
28/5
|
13/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
B11
|
15/5
|
15/5
|
15/6
|
17/6
|
|
|
|
|
|
16/8
|
17/8
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B14
|
30/5
|
30/5
|
9/6
|
11/6
|
|
1/7
|
|
|
|
9/8
|
12/8
|
39
|
16/8*
|
16/8*
|
*Logger 16/8
2
|
|
B15
|
16/5
|
24/5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
B11
|
13/5
|
19/5
|
|
|
|
25/6
|
failed
|
|
|
5/8
|
|
41
|
7/8
|
8/8
|
1+1 failed
|
|
B14
|
20/5
|
22/5
|
|
|
|
6/7
|
|
|
|
13/8
|
15/8
|
38
|
6/8
|
13/8
|
2
|
|
2015
|
B11
|
30/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
28/6
|
?
|
|
|
?
|
11/8
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
B14
|
20/5
|
30/5
|
|
|
|
?
|
?
|
|
|
17/8
|
22/8
|
|
|
|
2
|
Bezzel, E.
1985. Kompendium der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Aula-Verkag, Wiesbaden.
Lack, D. &
Lack, E. 1951. The breeding biology of the Swift Apus apus.
Ibis 93(4): 501-546.
Weitnauer,
E. 1980. "Mein Vogel" Aus dem Leben des Mauerseglers Apus apus.
Basellandschaftlicher Natur- und Vogelschutzverband, Liestal.
Note: The “median” is in
the middle of a row of specified dates.
For dates from the colony in
Berlin, Germany please click here.
To see the Common Swift
calendar, click here.
Other colonies |
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Commonswift
Worldwide ©
Ulrich Tigges
Apus apus, Swifts, Commonswift, gierzwaluw, vencejo comun, sis hachomot,
סיס החומות,
Црна чиопа,
Kara Sağan,
Čiopa, ciopa, chyorny strizh,
Gierzwaluw (Apus apus), Vencejo
común,
Черный
Стриж,
Martinet noir, Rondone comune, rondoni,
åtactara,
السمامة,
Mauersegler, Apuslife
Commonswift's topography, togography of the Commonswift, feathers, crown, eye
line, eye patch, forecrown, lore, chin, throat, ear coverts, hindneck, mantle,
scapulars, rump, uppertail coverts, tail, tertials, greater coverts, secondaries,
median coverts, leading edge coverts, lesser coverts, lesser primary coverts,
alula, median primary coverts, leading edge coverts, greater primary coverts,
primaries, median coverts, greater coverts, secondaries, axillaries, undertail,
undertail coverts, rear flank, vent, flank, belly, brest, apodidae, apodiformes,
size, color, colour, weight, sex, flight acquaintance, flight speed, age, food,
enemies, pair bonding, nest, eggs, egg, young, bad weather, voice, download wave
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