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stubirdnb โ Bank Swallow in the rain
Published: 2010-07-01 22:20:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 522; Favourites: 6; Downloads: 18
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Description
A BANK SWALLOW in flight in the rain searching for insects at the Cap-Pelรฉ Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cap-Pelรฉ, New Brunswick (Canada).Related content
Comments: 10
About 30 minutes and 200 shots....
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Must have been really hungry to hunt in the rain.
Nice flight shot.
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Thanks, Ralph. It was a cool wet day and there were hundreds of swallows of four species flying low along one of the slopes of the sewage lagoons. Although I couldn't see any insects the swallows appeared to be catching plenty judging by all the twisting and turning they were doing. I stood among them in the rain for a half hour and took about 200 flight shots but failed miserably. This was the best I could do.....
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Have you ever tried feeding Swallows? You could make your own opportunities.
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Well now, you'll just have to fill me in on feeding swallows....
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We had Tree and Barn Swallows nesting on Partridge Island. We also had nice open, mowed areas that were perfect for the swallows to feed by skimming close to the ground, especially along the roadways.
I noted that they would hang around when I was mowing the lawn and snag Millers et cetera that I disturbed. Most of the bugs escaped back to ground so I tried tossing some higher into the air.
It worked. The swallows and I quickly got our timing right. I'd toss the bugs as the birds approached and, if they opened their wings (usually) to ease their fall, the swallows had that extra split second to grab the morsel.
The next step was to catch moths around my outside light at night and store them in a jar, in my refridgerator. They stayed very inactive while cold.
The following afternoon, when the Swallows zipped about, I had lots of fresh meat and for a while I got to hear that amazing "snap" as the Swallows enjoyed their lunch.
I did this feeding on many occasions over the 17 years I was on Partridge Island I see no reason that it wouldn't work anywhere that conditions permit, most notable, a swallow population and an open feeding area.
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That's hilarious, Ralph. Wish I had been there to photograph the operation!
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You need to recruit a "tosser" and try it yourself. Swallows love Spruce Budworm moths.
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