HE common fast, barn swallow and common plane These are three insectivorous urban bird species whose populations are declining sharply. Still, they play an important role against pests, and herein lies the importance of their protection. They’re not the only species that act like ‘.natural pesticides‘, but some of the most influential.
Despite being obvious allies of man, the main threats facing these three migratory species are destruction of nesting sites and pesticide use.
The Spanish Society of Ornithology (SEO-BirdLife), or Ecoologistas en Acción, has developed campaigns for years to protect the three most abundant insectivorous species in Spanish cities. These are the three “neighborhood birds” that return to the cities and towns of Spain each spring, and “providing an undoubted benefit in pest control affecting both crops and human health”.
All three species are strictly protected by law, so removing breeding grounds and destroying nests are crimes that should be legally prosecuted. But it’s also common because swallows, terns and terns place their nests on buildings, the first two being very visible, and this is seen by some as a “aesthetic” and “cleanliness” issue.
The destruction of nests is mainly due to building renovations. where they are, by changing their conditions (closing holes, removing eaves…). In addition to the construction of new buildings, totally smooth walls, doesn’t help so they can colonize other urban areas.
Other threats to this species are pesticide use, urban air pollution, which destroys their food sources and reduces their reproductive capacity, and climate change, which currently affects migration strategies.
Data conducted by Ecologistas en Acción on the evolution of populations of these birds in the spring between 1998 and 2019 reveal a marked decline of 27.2% in swallows and much higher in swallows. 30%, it is assumed that about one million specimens are lost each year in Spain for this last species.
They constantly eat insects
The diet of this species consists mainly of insects.. Planes feed on flies and mosquitoes, while swallows consume bedbugs and small insects, among others. Scientific research has found up to 445 ingested prey items in the digestive tract of some swift species found in the Spanish territory, of which more than 99% were insects.
A single swallow consumes 850 flies and mosquitoes per day.which means more than 310,000 per year, an obvious feast of benefits for agriculture and therefore food.
So the eating capacity of these birds is an essential ecosystem service for humans as it is a natural pest control. Science has identified the swallow and barn swallow as natural predators of insect species that pose a threat to crops.
Moreover, They also save people from contracting diseases caused by insect bites.. Its predator capacity contributes to the extinction of populations of insect vectors of infectious diseases affecting humans.
“Ensuring the survival of terns, terns and terns requires a strong effort from municipal public administrations and a clear commitment to that end,” says Ecologistas en Acción.
That’s why campaigns like ‘Three flappers’ are trying to get Spanish municipalities approved. regulations involving urban measures supporting the conservation of populations of these species.
Other initiatives planned in the campaign include actions to establish new colonies, measures to prevent possible disturbances in the population, and tools to facilitate censuses of existing species.
The swift and the swallow are the two most threatened species today. SEO/BirdLife estimates this One million copies of Barn Swallows go missing in Spain each yearis one of the most popular genres. In the rest of Europe the situation is even worse.
Barn Swallow’s population decline is alarming. It was 41% between 1998 and 2012 and stands at 33% over the last decade. In addition, according to a study conducted by a non-governmental organization, the probability of extinction of the species in the Iberian Peninsula within the next hundred years is 10%. Despite all this, the swallow is currently listed as a threatened species in only four autonomous communities: Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura.
These are some characteristics of these three types:
common plane (delichon urbicum)
A very gregarious species, it forms nest colonies attached to buildings, even in large cities. Although it is a migratory and wintering species on the peninsula, a minimum wintering period has been observed in southwest Spain in recent years. It can be seen in our country from February to October. The Spanish population is the largest in Europe.
They are between 13 and 15 cm in length, between 26 and 28 cm in wingspan, and weigh about 18 grams. It has a bright bluish-black color above and white below, as well as the rump (last part of the back). Its wings are long and pointed, its tail is short and forked black. The beak is short, straight and black, the mouth is very wide.
It is a very singing bird that often makes “chirp” or “yeep” type sounds. Their natural enemies are the barn owl and magpie.the one who takes the chicks out of their nests. In some countries, such as Portugal, artificial nests have been established quite successfully.
Barn Swallow (rustic)
It is one of the most studied birds by science and has been key to unresolved aspects of migration and reproduction. Its arrival is considered the harbinger of spring and is leaving early due to climate change. It nests in colonies. It can be seen from February to October in Spain.
They are 14 to 19 centimeters in length, have a wingspan of about 33 centimeters, and weigh between 16 and 22 grams. It is black in color with metallic blue accents on the top and creamy white undersides. It has a red forehead and throat and a black collar. Its wings are long and pointed. and show shades of white in the lower front. The tail is very long, forked, black, with small white ovals when elongated. The beak is short, straight and black.
It is a bird that sings a lot. Their songs, sometimes in chorus, consist of accelerated musical chatter of chained chirps with a characteristic ending: a harsh prrr. Makes frequent calls, mostly a high-pitched “uit, uit”. Their predators include hawks, hawks, owls and domestic cats.
common speed (apus apus)
They represent the extreme adaptation of birds to air life: Except for nesting, the entire life cycle can occur during flight.. You can even sleep on the plane. Although its origin is red, today it breeds almost exclusively in urban areas, even in large cities. It can be seen from April to September in Spain.
It has a wingspan ranging from 16 to 17 centimeters, swings from 42 to 47 centimeters and weighs about 40 grams. It is dark brown, almost black, except for the throat, which is white. Its wings are narrow and long, its furry and very short legs prevent it from perching on the ground. The beak is short and straight, and the mouth is very wide.
He has a characteristic song: he utters a short, monotonous, high-pitched scream over and over again. Females pronounce “suií” and males “sriií”. When the two are sung together, they give birth to the typical song of the genre.
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