http___www.springalive.net_ga-ie_springalive_fainleog_1.xml
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Swallows are small birds with dark metallic blue backs, reddish throats, white bellies and long forked, streamer-like tails. When they fly they can look totally black – it’s easiest to recognise them by their long tail and skimming flight. They are common throughout Ireland between April and September. Swallows chatter and burble to each other when they sit on wires or along the edges of buildings - they may even wake you up! They fly north to Europe in springtime to breed, nest and raise their young. Swallows build nests made from a mixture of saliva and mud in the shape of a small bowl, often inside sheds and other buildings. How do I tell the difference between a Swallow and a Swift? A Swift is noticeably larger than a Swallow, and its wings are longer, significantly narrower, and scythe-shaped. The Swallow has more „flexible” wings which can clearly be seen to bend in flight. The tail of a Swallow is longer and much more noticeably forked. You should remember that Swallows are generally more common in the countryside, while Swifts are more often found in cities. How do I tell young Swallows from adults? Young Swallows are a bit smaller and have shorter tails than their parents. If you live on a farm, you can probably find a nest in the old buildings, under a wooden beam or a rafter. If you are very quiet you might see a little bit of Swallow family life – there may be some chicks being fed insects by their parents. What do they eat? Mostly flying insects, and more rarely insects caught in flight from the ground or from the surface of water; very rarely they also catch insects when sitting on plants or on the ground. Swallows' nests The nest is usually hidden inside a building or under a bridge. It usually is in the shape of a quarter-sphere made of mud or clay mixed with long blades of grass and straws. It is usually attached to a wall, beam,or cornice, and is always open from the top. Wintering sites European birds spend the winter in the western part of Africa, from the equatorial zone up to the southern edge of the continent. The population of Swallows in Europe Swallows are common and their population is quite stable in Europe, although destruction of their environment and natural surroundings could threaten their future.
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Is éin bheaga iad Fáinleoga, le dromanna dúghorma miotalacha, scornacha scothdhearga, boilg bána agus eireabaill fada, gabhlacha cosúil le sraoilleán. Nuair a bhíonn siad ag eitilt ceapann a lán daoine gur héin dubha atá ann – féadtar a n-eireaball fada agus an slí bhearrtha a úsáideann siad nuair a bhíonn siad ag eitilt a úsáid chun aithne a chur orthu. Tá siad le feiceáil go coitianta ar fud na hÉireann idir Aibreán agus Meán Fómhair. Bíonn Fáinleoga ag grágarsach agus ag plubaireacht lena chéile nuair a bhíonn siad ina suí ar sreanga nó ar éadain foirgnimh - is féidir leo daoine a dhúiseacht fiú amháin! Tagann siad ó dheas go dtí an Eoraip san Earrach mar éin ghoir, déanann siad a neadacha a thógáil agus tugann siad aire do na héin óga. Úsáideann Fáinleoga meascán de sheile agus láib chun neadacha cosúil le babhla beag a thógáil. Déanann siad é seo go minic laistigh de seideanna agus foirgnimh eile. Conas is féidir liom idirdhealú a dhéanamh idir Fáinleog agus Gabhlán gaoithe? Éan i bhfad níos mó ná an Fáinleog é an Gabhlán gaoithe, le sciatháin níos faide, agus i bhfad níos caoil, cosúil le speal aige. Tá sciatháin níos “solúbtha” ag an Fáinleog, agus is féidir leat iad a fheiceáil ag lúbadh agus an t-éan ag eitilt. Tá eireaball níos faide ag an Fáinleog atá i bhfad níos gabhlaí. Cuimhnigh go bhfuil níos mó Fáinleoga le feiceáil faoin tuath de ghnáth, cé go bhfuil níos mó Gabhláin ghaoithe le feiceáil sna cathracha. Conas is féidir liom idirdhealú a dhéanamh idir Fáinleoga óga agus Fáinleoga fásta? Éin beagáinín níos lú iad Fáinleoga óga, le heireabaill níos giorra ná a dtuismitheoirí. Má tá tú i do chónaí ar feirm, is dócha go mbeidh tú in ann nead a fheiceáil sna sean-fhoirgnimh, faoi bíoma adhmaid nó rachta. Má bhíonn tú an-chiúin tá seans ann go mbeidh tú in ann beagáinín de shaol teaghlaigh na Fáinleoige a fheiceáil – b'fhéidir go mbeidh na tuismitheoirí ag tabhairt feithidí go dtí na sicíní. Cad a itheann siad? Feithidí eitilte don chuid is mó, nó feithidí a ghabhann siad ag eitilt anios agus arís nuair a bhíonn siad ar an talamh nó ar an uisce; gabhann siad feithidí go hannamh freisin nuair a bhíonn siad ina suí ar phlandaí nó ar an talamh. Neadacha na Fáinleog De ghnáth, bíonn an nead faoi cheilt i bhfoirgneamh nó faoi droichead. De ghnáth, is ceathrú-sféar í atá déanta de láib nó cré le meascán de ghais féir fada agus tuí. Bíonn sí ceangailte le balla, le bíoma nó le coirnis de ghnáth, agus bíonn bealach isteach amháin ann ar barr. Suímh geimhrithe Geimhríonn na héin Eorpacha in iarthar na hAfraice, ón Mheánchiorcal go dtí cósta deiscirt na h-ilchríche. Líon na Fáinleog san Eoraip Is speiceas láidir í an Fháinleog agus tá líon na Fáinleoige cobhsaí ann san Eoraip faoi láthair, ach féadfaidh an damáiste a dhéantar dá dtimpeallacht agus dá gcomharsanacht nádúrtha cuir isteach ar a dtodhchaí.