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Fairy Martin

(Hirundo ariel)
Alternative names: "Bottle Swallow", "Cliff Swallow", "Land Swallow"
Size: 12-13 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Fairy Martins are endemic to Australia. They populate most of the Australian continent, with a few exceptions, but are not found in Tasmania. On the continent, they avoid the major deserts, i.e. the Nullarbor, Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert and the Simpson Desert, but also Kakadu/Arnhemland, NT. They are rarely found in southern central SA and southern central WA. During their breeding season they are usally in the southern three quarters of their range, up to about Cairns, QLD, Mt. Isa, QLD, and Broome, WA. During the rest of the year they also populate the far north of the continent, but are rarely seen on Cape York peninsula.

Fairy Martins are usually found in open country, but never far from water and suitable nest sites, such as bridges, culverts or overhanging rocks.

Sightings

Spotted only occasionally in 2005, Fairy Martins came to our neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, where they hunted from dead trees standing in the water. They returned to the same place in September 2006.

Also seen regularly 20 km east of Narrabri in late 2006 and then again from late August 2007 onwards. During the winter of 2008 at least part of the local population remained in the Narrabri area. They reappeared at our place in the middle of September. Still seen 30 km east of Narrabri in March 2009.

Regularly seen also in the area of Maules Creek, Barraba and Manilla, NSW.

Photos

Two Fairy Martins on the ground collecting nesting material; based on their normal behaviour one might think that they were after mud, but there is no mud here - this photo shows that they were also collecting ash of a woodfire

Two Fairy Martins on the ground collecting nesting material

Here a flock of Fairy Martins taking a timeout for some preening

Fairy Martins taking flight

Fairy Martin in flight

Fairy Martin in flight (left); on the left one can also see a Welcome Swallow

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec Eggs: 4 - 6 Incubation period: 14 - 16 days Fledging age: 14 days

Fairy Martins can, given the right conditions, breed any time of the year. They nest in colonies. Male and female share the incubation and feeding duties. During the breeding season adult birds will roost in the nest.

Nest

Type: Bottle Material: Mud glued to overhanging surface Height above ground: >2 m

Fairy Martins seen collecting red-soil mud from the edge of a puddle

Here they are after dry grass, possibly to use it as lining material

Obviously, the nests will then be reddish...

... if grey soil is available, the outcome will look like this

Colony of Fairy Martin nests under a bridge across the Namoi river south of Narrabri; one chick can be seen waiting outside the nest, two others are looking out the entrance

Closer view of a Fairy Martin entering its nest; the entrance is on the side of the nest, not in the middle

Eggs

Size: 17 x 12 mm Colour: Pale creamy with light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Flock

As opposed to other swallows, Fairy Martins hunt in flocks. They also go to ground in flocks of 10 to 20. It is now clear that they collected ash from the ground, probably as a binding agent for their nests (see photos above). Normally we see them collecting mud, not ash.

Fairy Martins are shier than other types of swallows and will not nest close to humans.

Like other types of swallows, Fairy Martins scoop up water in flight

Food

Like all other swallows known to us, Fairy Martins are insect hunters. They feed in-flight on small insects.