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Welcome Swallow |
Sightings
Welcome Swallows visited us regularly where we lived in 2003-2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales. A couple stayed there to raise their young under the roof of a barn.
During the summers of 2006/07 and 2007/08 we had a nest under the awning of the roof of our home 20 km east of Narrabri. There were no Welcome Swallows around during the winter of 2007, which brought temperatures down to -5 C. However, during the following winter (2008) a flock of at least 20 Welcome Swallows stayed in the area, indicating that there would not be a harsh winter.
Photos
Frontal view of a Welcome Swallow (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a Welcome Swallow (click on image for larger version)
Rear view of a Welcome Swallow (click on image for larger version)
Young Welcome Swallow that has escaped from its nest waiting to be fed (click on image for larger version)
Nest
Like other swallows, they build their nests out of clay mud. Inside they are lined with feathers, as shown in the photo below.
Welcome Swallow feeding four chicks (click on image for larger version)
View from the other side of the nest (click on image for larger version)
Curious chicks peeking over the rim of the nest (click on image for larger version)
Eggs
Below a photo taken with a mirror of an egg in the first nest shown above.
Welcome Swallow egg in nest
Habits
Welcome Swallows breed twice per year. The nest and eggs shown above where photographed at the start of August, that is winter in our region, when the birds were getting off to an early start. A pair nesting in an empty water tank at our neighbour's place tells us that this is not a singular occurrence. The second nest shown above is the second of the same season.