<< Previous Next >>

Cliff Swallow


Cliff Swallow
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Swallows [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-27 10:03
Viewed: 1291
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It was low tide at the marshlands. We saw dozens of these cliff swallows in the mud flats, busily picking up mud for construction material to take back to their nests under the eaves of the Palo Alto Nature Center.

Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cool fact: Like its close relative the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), the Cliff Swallow has benefited from the proliferation of manmade nesting sites. Once restricted to nesting on the cliff faces of the West, Cliff Swallows now most often nest under bridges, culverts, and the eaves of buildings.

Cliff Swallow nests are located in colonies averaging a few hundred nests and ranging up to two or three thousand in the West. Many adults return to the same colony year after year. A colony serves as an "information center" for feeding birds, as unsuccessful foragers may follow successful birds to food sources. Breeding is highly synchronous, and females may lay eggs in adjacent nests, or even carry an egg to another nest. There are frequent disputes as birds attempt to steal nesting material or attempt copulations outside of established pairs. Most extra-pair copulations occur at mud-gathering sites.

Cliff Swallows build gourd-shaped nests out of mud pellets that they carry in their mouth to a nest site protected by an overhang. The male begins the nest as a shelf adhered to a vertical surface. The pair continues the construction by building up the sides and bringing them together to form a roof. The typical nest, which contains approximately 1,000 mud pellets when finished, is lined with grasses and feathers. Sometimes the nest will have an entrance tunnel up to eight inches in length that points down and away from other nests. Both sexes share in incubating and feeding chicks.

Winters for Cliff Swallows are spent in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Diurnal migrants that feed as they travel, Cliff Swallows from the East swing west around the Gulf of Mexico, following western migrants south via Central America. The arrival back on the breeding territory is remarkably punctual, usually varying by only a day or two. The best-known arrival date is March 19, the day Cliff Swallows are said to return to the San Juan Capistrano Mission in southern California.

Description: Cliff Swallows have glossy blue-black backs streaked with white and a cinnamon rump. The wings and square tail are brownish black. Underparts are white with the upper breast sides and flanks pale gray brown. The throat and sides of the head are chestnut. Below the throat is a patch of black at the top of the breast. The forehead is white to pale brown. Both sexes look alike.

Source
carper, TAZ, liquidsunshine, cam has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-04-27 12:03]

very nice one Manyee,
You capture here a very nice one, good in pov,
I think you used a flash here? Very good note too very good job,
gr. Jaap

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-27 13:05]

Belle et intéressante composition photographique pour cet oiseau dans son nid. La pose est jolie avec la petite patte sur le bord.
Well Done !

Nice capture Manyee,
An interesting shot with interesting notes.
Nice colours and details, just a shame about the red eye.
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 519 W: 0 N: 16] (2603)
  • [2005-04-27 13:38]

Naprawdę świetne zdjęcie Manyee.
Duże brawa!!!

  • Great 
  • cam Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 78] (360)
  • [2005-05-02 23:31]

Hello Manyee.Good close-up of the head in the nest.the details are interresting to look at.You did a good job and a very useful note.
Charles

Cute shot Manyee. It is amazing how fast these swallows can fly. Nice to see this wee fella still. Well done. Thanks

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF