ANDREY N. MOSKVICHEV: Arrival and departure dates of the Common Swift in Ulyanovsk, Russia, from 1999 to 2004

ANDREY N. MOSKVICHEV:

Arrival and departure dates of the Common Swift in Ulyanovsk, Russia, from 1999 to 2004

The Common Swift is a numerous breeding species in the whole of this region. The first birds usually arrive at the beginning of May. The departure of local birds occurs in the first ten days of August. In some years the last migrating Swifts can be observed up to the middle of September.

Ulyanovsk lies on the Volga river (54°14'-54°22' N, 48°17'-48°42' E). The Common Swifts breed mostly in 5 to13 storey buildings of modern type (see photo).

The arrival dates of the Common Swift are listed below. The last migrating birds were observed on 24.08.99, 1.09.00, 14.09.01, 1.09.02, 8.09.03 and 31.08.04.

Year Arrival

1999 6.05.

2001 7.05.

2002 9.05.

2003 12.05.

2004 9.05.

This gives a median date of 9th May for arrival; the period spent in the breeding colonies is therefore about 85 - 95 days.

Photo: Andrey N. Moskvichev