The Swallow is an iconic bird, harbinger of spring for millennia. Indeed, Swallows are summer migrants, they usually arrive in the second half of April from their winter grounds in South Africa, and leave after rearing two broods in late September early October. Swallows have forked tails, metallic black upper parts and creamy underparts, with a red-brick face. Their wings are narrow and pointy and together with their forked tail, they afford them a very manoeuvrable flight. They are insect feeders, from tiny flies to damselflies that they pick from the air. They often hunt close to the ground over grassland or water, and will often follow people along banks, as they pick disturbed insects. Although they spend much time on the wing, they often alight on wires and aerials.
A group of Swallows, mostly juveniles, by Barmston Drain at Fountain Road. 8/08/2022.
Status and distribution in Hull
Swallows are scarce summer breeders in Hull. When not migrating, they are often seen near their breeding sites. They make use of bridges over the larger drains and the River Hull inside the city, and in the outskirts they will breed in other human structures as outbuildings, porches and barns.
A fledgling on moornings by Stoneferry. 6 September 2021.
Adult at Wilmington Bridge. 11/05/2024.
A singing male at Drypool Bridge. 21/05/2023.
Singing male by Stoneferry Bridges. 28/06/2022.
Conservation
After some recovery, Swallows were moved from Amber to Green Listed in 2015. However, the UK population has suffered a recent population decline of 24%. In cities, the limitation to Swallow distribution is access to mud to make their nests and suitable breeding spaces. In rural areas mud can be obtained from puddles in ruts in unsurfaced lanes. In cities, impervious surfaces make mud a scarce resource. This is often not a problem near watercourses, which also offer increased insect supply. Population fluctuations have been shown to be at least partly related to rainfall in their wintering grounds and passage areas during migration.
More information
BTO Birdfacts. Swallow.
Broughton, R.K. 2002. Birds of the Hull area.
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