Discussion Forum

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

Maybe. Read
http://www.freespeech.org/amygdala/articles/scimaths/swift.htm
and decide for yourself. Simon Whitechapel

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.

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.

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 ?

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:

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

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.

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!

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?

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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??

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

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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