Ringing (of birds)

Barn swallows show to be constant in the choice of their nesting places over years

Also in 2019, ecologic studies could be realized in the swallow colony on the Dehesa San Francisco in Santa Olalla del Cala in the Nature Park Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche (Huelva). Thanks to the support of the EU-program Erasmus+ ringers from the German Nature Park Dübener Heide together with the Spanish ringer Jesús Fernández and his helpers from Seville the practical research could be continued. Again, ecological parameter could be collected. 14 adults, nine nestlings and three one year old swallows with rings from the central for ringing in Madrid could be marked.

First important insight: the swallows in the area of action are very true to their nesting area. Four adults form the year before and four adults from 2017 could be found in the colony. Apart from the swallows, also other birds on the Dehesa San Francisco were investigated and marked, such as the Azure-winged magpie, the Sardinian warbler, the Orphean warbler, the nightingale and the Hawfinch.  Again here, several of them were known from years before.

One highlight was the control of a colony in Bahía Sur de Cádiz: 15 couples can nest in a shopping center tolerated by the manager and without any complaint about the dirt they produce – they are welcome….flying between boutique and boutique…..

Tomas Brückmann (www.rauchschwalben.info)