Where I walk the dog across our village green (which is a mown football size area surrounded by trees - mostly various eucalpts) a pair of welcome swallows fly past up and around us the whole time and I have read that this is a common behaviour but I can't find the reasoning behind it - does anyone know?
I have wondered whether it is territorial (however it is not threatening just close and constant) or whether we are stirring up insects which is providing them with an easy feed. My dog is trained to ignore birds but they get so close sometimes that if she wasn't trained she could take a snap at them. There are noisy miners in this area (in the eucalypts) which also swoop the dog but this is a different and definitely threatening action unlike the swallows. Any thoughts??
Very typical behaviour but I don't know why either. I get the impression it's a combination of curiosity, gregariousness and sheer joy, the way they swoop all over. Possibly it's a method of keeping tabs on and alerting others of potential threats too but it doesn't seem so. There's one spot I go to almost every weekend - they always accompany me along the boardwalk to the end where I sit with my camera for a while, sometimes settling just ahead on the railing as if waiting for me to catch up. I think they may also have nests under the boardwalk as they disappear underneath. They'll land maybe within 2-3 metres of me and twitter away. Good company. There are a lot of juveniles around at the moment and you can get quite close to them.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Yes I'd agree with that. Every time I've seen swallows they seem to like flying just for the joy of it. Either that or, like qyn55 suggests, we stir up insects that we can't see ourselves, like cows stirring up insects for the cattle egrets.
Could be, NP, but I've actually thought about this before and they don't appear to be feeding on the wing at such times. I'm usually there very early in the morning - at that time the air isn't rising and midgies etc. aren't noticeably active but, as you say, maybe we're just not seeing them. I don't think they'd be settling so calmly on the railing if feeding was their main focus though. I'd also feel better that they're interested in me and not be put on the same level as a cow
I might try to get some video this weekend and see if they are actually feeding.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
The ones breeding at my place, have not fed on the wing, the young were big enough to feed themselves when they left the nest. But they came back for some time to sleep in the nest during the night, while one parent warmed them, and the other sat close to the nest like a look out. From time to time the young sat on fences to be fed , but not often. When they use the nest under my car port, they don't pay any attention to me, they fly around me just like they would fly around any other object. I think they are so fast, that they don't have to worry about being caught or attacked , they are not scared of the dogs either. They hang around the horses because of the insects though.
Interesting question Alison.
M-L
I love that "sheer joy" scenario - they are lovely little birds! I would be very interested if you could get that video, Wendy.
Thanks!
Thanks for your thoughts also Night Parrot ....... and M-L.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
When I'm accompanied by welcome swallows it's usually a sign that my hair needs washing.
That said, there are many animals whose behaviour suggests to humans a feeling of sheer joy. E.g., elephants wallowing in water & a dog stretching while lying in the sun. ut how we'll ever know what the feeling is I don't know.
It's a great question qyn & shows that the internet hasn't taken all the mysteries from life.
Dang, I just washed my hair. Whatza bet I won't see any tomorrow!
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Ah Woko, I love your sense of humour! Oh well Wendy at least the lack of Welcome Swallows now has a reason!
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
M-L
You
, M-L.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
I was at one of my usual haunts this morning and saw a swallow swoop down and look like it "took" a slightly smaller bird. Shock! Horror!! Oh nos, it's taken a White Fronted Chat!!!
Swallows do this???
The swallow rose up in the air with it but dropped it. Wendy starts snapping away, taking her usual rubbishy panic shots, only to find out the prey was, in fact, a largish feather. Camera sees way more than I do. Not sure if the swallow was a bit too ambitious in choosing nesting material or if it was playing. Once the feather hit the ground it didn't go back to try again.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Very interesting Wendy - that feather looks almost as large as the Swallow - any idea what bird it came from.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
It's probably from a Silver Gull by the looks of it but the area is a bird reserve and there are all sorts there.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Okay thanks Wendy
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
I spent some time birding this weekend at Edithvale Wetlands. As a newbie I per-chanced upon my first encounter with Welcome Swallows. There were at least 12 of them flying around me in elongated loops. It was truly remarkable to have them in my binos as they would fly towards me and turn at the last minute to swoop around me.
I cannot explain the behavior. When I read of their propensity to feed on the wing I did think that that might have been the explanation but there were no insects as I recall.
The only thing I can shed some light on is perhaps their name. I felt like a welcome guest in their playground. It was a beautiful moment and one which I hope might be repeated again some day.
BTW, Woko. I love the reference to unwashed hair. Much mirth was had.
Looking forward to some determined researcher posting an answer to this interesting question.
Monti.
I did some searching but found nothing......... Except for this rather magnificent image of a welcome swallow not being all that welcoming.
I should add just in case of confusion that NO..... I didn't take this shot. I truly wish I did but I can't claim it unfortunately.
That is a great photo - thanks for sharing!
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
Monti, I reckon that's a young welcome swallow about to be fed by a parent welcome swallow. No doubt it was a welcome swallow by the young welcome swallow.
I suspect the "lack" of insects where the swallows were swooping near you might be more due to the insect size than their absence. I've watched New Holland honeyeaters hawking for insects & a superb fairy-wren catching insects that I certainly couldn't see until one of each species alighted with a beak full of extremely small creatures.
I reckon you're probably right about the insect size Woko. And upon review I think you are spot on about the swallow being fed. Never pays to humanise animals. It often leads us to an inaccurate conclusion. In my head he was screeching "BUGGER OFF.... It's my post!!!!" :o)
Cheers mate.
Monti
Hi Monti. Given that we are humans I suppose it's difficult not to humanise birds. But I agree with you that humanising birds can cause problems such as overlooking what's really going on. Maybe we need to be aware of when we are humanising birds so that we can be disciplined enough to view the reality.
anf I thought that it was mum asking dad where he had been
Peter