Welcome Swallow (Hirondelle messagère)

     In North America we are used to hirundines being migratory, with perhaps the most famous being the swallows that return to the mission at San Juan Capistrano in California each year on the 19th of March. Legend has it that an irate innkeeper had destroyed their nests so when they returned the following year they sought sanctuary in the mission where their nests would be safe, and have returned ever since.
    Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is a resident species in Australia, with some erratic migration within the country. In many regions, however, even that movement does not occur.

     On our recent visit to Australia we encountered this very attractive swallow in every state we visited, seeing them right from the first day at the Sydney Botanic Garden. Indeed, a vivid image in my mind, is of Welcome Swallows swooping and gliding with the Sydney Opera House in the background; truly representing a welcome to visitors from overseas.
     We were present during the start of the breeding season for the species, and Franc captured a remarkable series of images of birds gathering mud for the construction of their nests.

     Males are first to bring mud to a site for a nest, but both males and females build the nest. Old nests are also repaired. Most activity takes place during the morning.

     Copulation may take place on a perch near the nest, both during construction and when it is complete.
     The nest is a half cup attached to a vertical surface. Artificial structures are generally used rather than natural sites, using bridges, verandas, rafters, water tanks, and even "outback" mailboxes. Nests are usually located on the outside of buildings, but not always.

     Second clutches are not unusual and the female does virtually all the incubation, in many pairs exclusively. Average clutch size is four eggs, rarely five or three.

     In sedentary pairs the nest may be used for roosting after the breeding season is over.

References: Swallows and Martins (1989), Angela Turner and Chris Rose; Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 9 (2004), del Hoyo,J., Elliott, A & Christie, D.A.