Swallows from Great Britain, Denmark and Italy visit Urdaibai.

Like in previous years, during the prenuptial migration of this year we have continued with the swallow (Hirundo rustica) tracking project in Orueta´s wetland (Urdaibai). The most interesting point of the data collected this year has been the big amount of individuals captured, over 2500.

The information that this project reveals is very important according to the study of this specie. For example, we can demonstrate that young swallows born this year in southern areas, have travelled to Urdaibai with the adults in their migratory flyway from Africa to their nesting areas in northern Europe.

We have observed some swallows ringed last year as well, some of whom were captured in august, when being young individuals, and they have come back as adults.

At the same time, we have recaptured swallows ringed in other countries: two individuals from Great Britain, another one from Denmark and, the most incredible one, a swallow from Italy. It is the first time that an individual ringed is this country is captured in the Bird Center. At the moment the data is still being processed and we hope to obtain more information from it.

During the migration, the bad weather suffered by the end of may provoked the concentration of the migratory swallows in Orueta´s wetland, in front of the Bird Center, in order to feed on and rest. Afterwards they continued with their way to the north.

According to the track down carried out in collaboration with other countries we also have some news from Hjalmar Dahm, member of the Nature Conservation Society of Sweden and connoisseur of our project. Hjalmar has told us that the swallows reached his farm during may, but due to the low temperature it was obvious that they found difficult to breeding, because of the shortage of insects. We received from Hjalmar a video from the place as well.

At present, the vast majority of swallows have already reached their breeding areas and we hope to receive more good news from different countries, as well as the swallows themselves in their way back to Africa.