Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) - local seasonal appearance

Based on 70 observations in Seymour township, Northumberland county, southeast Ontario, 1999-2006.

The earliest and latest sightings of this quintessential summer visitor during this 5-year period were 27 April and 30 August. This long-tailed swallow can usually be found swooping over the Trent canal and perched on lines near the intake of the hydroelectric power plant, at the south end of Trent Island, immediately above locks 11-12. Overall, barn swallow sightings were markedly lower in 2004-2006 than in the five previous years, a suspicion explained only in part by absences of the observer in 2005-2006.

The typical migration through, and residence and breeding of these birds at Presqu'ile provincial park, roughly 40 km to the south, occurs from mid-April to late September, with extreme sightings on 13 April and 16 November (LaForest, 1993, pp.251-252). Birds seen in the park after mid-May are part of the local breeding population, while fall migrants move through from late July to late September. In Peterborough county, to the northwest, the barn swallow has been noted from 03 April to 05 October (Sadler, 1983, pp.112,177).


barn swallow sightings [115 kb]

References

LaFOREST,SM (1993) Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Friends of Presqu'ile Park / Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 436pp.

SADLER,D (1983) Our Heritage of Birds: Peterborough County in the Kawarthas. Peterborough Field Naturalists / Orchid Press, Peterborough, ON, 192pp.


Graham Wilson, posted 19 July 2003, updated 27 April 2007

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