Swallow departure 2010

[Cowgirl]

Was watching the swallows swooping around the car parkat work today & wondered to myself, when will they go? Every year I suddenly remember the swallows, look up & they've gone & I don't remember if they were there the day before or not.

Just thought it would be an interesting topic to post a thread here and report around the country when they depart for warmer climes (Wish I could join them ).

Have no idea if the day is imminent or for another month yet? Is there a magic date & they all go at once or do they depart in north to south order?

[rossy]

dont think there is any magic day, and what you will find is some have still got young in the nest, others will have departed, i remember one year i was at a funeral in october ,and one passed over, and most days now you will see them as i did today with house martins moving towards the coast, and before any wise cracks i meant a swallow passed over. rossy.

[JAB_Simon]

Hi, this is my first post so hope it adds something. I have to remove my garage windows each year to let the swallows get inside, and back to their nest. So my friends and family always pass this comment, "I see the swallows are still here!" as they know that's the case...as I haven't yet put the window back in the garage door! It won't be long now though.

[rossy]

welcome simon and your one of a few who i admire, as one of the problems with birds and man is, simple, man takes what he wants, therefore birds lose out ie loss of habitat, in your case the swallows are lucky they can return to there home, tell me have they always been in your garage ? rossy.

[JAB_Simon]

Hello Rossy - thanks for responding and thanks also for your kind welcome. I hear what you're saying; it would have been such a shame to have excluded the Swallows. It's hard to tell how long the Swallows have been coming back to the garage...but they've been coming back for the 7 years we've been here, which I find amazing. And when I think about the distance and terrain they cover to find their way back to a windowless garage door it just blows my mind!

[Cowgirl]

That's great Simon what you do, welcome to WAB. I'm just interested in what triggers them to go, is is daylength or is it...well the family are ready, so lets go?

Where I used to work, the farm manager always used to stop the main tractor/grain shed automatic roller door a few inches from the floor on a night, so that the swallows could get to their nests, & our side always had to make sure that our vehicle shed roller was similarly left up a few inches. It was amazing watching the skill with which the swallows navigated the gap, at full speed as well & none of them ever made a mistake.

[Dorts]

Great story about the window Simon.
Our Swallows have just successfully reared their second brood which are now trying out wings round and round the inside of the barn.
Surely it's too late for a third lot now?
Dorts.

[JoulesH]

Most of ours have gone in the last week. 40-odd on the wires a few days ago and now only a handful, although a couple of broods still being fed on the nest.

[JAB_Simon]

Thanks everyone for your welcoming comments - I'm clearly in the right place! I was told that it's the drop in temperature and shortening daylight hours that trigger off the five thousand mile journey to southern Africa (was actually told this by Bill Oddie). Bill explained that "my Swallows" could still be in my garage early September and by late September (?) could be catching flies attracted to elephants and giraffes! He also said that newly fledged Swallows don't even follow their parents; they make the journey with newly fledged birds making the journey for the very first time. Amazing!

[Rob_D]

Working out exactly when they leave takes more discipline than noting when they arrive! Someone suggested making a note everyday when you see them. Then you should be able to tell exactly which day they're gone.

I hate to see them preparing to leave. Makes me want to migrate too.