Breeding ecology of the House Swallow, Hirundo rursica

Abstract

The House Swallow, Hirundo rustica, first arrives S. Japan in mid. March and the main flock occurs in Honshiu in early April. 2. In Hachioji, Tokyo, the peak of nesting is mid. April, the earliest 31 March. The percent nesting was 8% and the nesting period 8 days. Sixty percent of pairs used the old nests; worked for nesting chiefly during the forenoon and harder they worked for new nest. 3. The peak of laying occured in late April, the earliest the 8th. The clutch size 3-7, with the mean 5, and larger in the first broods. 4. The egg is laid daily between 5-7 a. m. 5. The egg size measured 21×15cm, 1.4g. 6. The peak season of hatching was late May. The incubation period was 14 days for the 1st and 12 days for the 2nd broods; the average brood size at hatching 4.7. 7. The feeding frequency per hour was average 32 times during the for-and 27 times afternoon. 8. The chick's weight was: 3rd day 5g., 6th day 12.5g, 9th day 16.7g. and 15th day 19.4g. The adult weigh 18g. 9. The chicks flew most in mid. June, early example on 20 May. They flew from nest led by a parent on fine day between 10-12 a. m. Average flying brood size 4.5 chicks; the fledging period was 21 days for both 1st and 2nd broods but when counted from the date of the laying of 1st egg, it was 39 days for the 1st and 36 days for the 2nd broods. 10. The percent damage from total of eggs laid was 27%. 11. The banding resulted 9.1% recovery of adults and 1.4% of young birds.