LT COL NOEL ELLIS
31/VII/2025
I have been fascinated by this bird called the ‘Wire Tailed Swallow’
since I first saw them about two years ago. They are small, a little bigger
than a Bulbul but have a fine blend of colours. The chest is white, the wings
from shades ranging from navy blue to black and the head in dark brown.
The unique part is the two wire like projections which protrude out from
the side of their body going way beyond the tail to a little more than their
own body length. Some have them straight and some have them curled. What are
the wires used for, used to intrigue me?
Was it just a growth or an appendage? Was it to be used to hold
something? How do they use and control it? Such questions kept churning in my
mind.
It required a little study and this is what I found out. These
filamentous wires which jut out from their rear are ‘tail streamers’ which are
very prominent in males. To spot a male becomes easy as these two wires are
longer and very prominent. Longer the tails, the healthier a bird is and
attracts more females during courtship.
I am not sure if these streamers or wires are used for aerodynamic
stability in flight. Maybe they use it for display flights during the mating
ritual. There is logic to it. It may also signal its position with these wires
while in flight and probably is a means of identification as every swallow
would have a different growth of its tail. This also appears to be correct.
Today, a Bulbul was very interested in what a swallow was doing, sitting
on a bamboo lying on someone’s roof. She too joined in to check out what was
going on.
In my view the male was sitting on a vantage point giving guard duty.
Their nest was located just above it which when I zoomed in could clearly make
out that the other partner was hatching her eggs. Her wires were not very
prominent as the one sitting outside. This proved that the males in the bird
species are more beautiful, charming, and attractive.
This bird is also called “Hirundo smithii”, which is quite difficult to
pronounce. The WTS are aerial ‘insectivores’ meaning it catches insects in
flight and eats them in the air. The love to devour ants, mosquitoes, flies,
moths, butterflies, wasps, spiders, beetles etc.
That is why when I noticed their flight pattern and flying skills, it is
totally zig-zag. They turn, dip, and dive mid air very sharply to catch their
prey mid-air. Their keen eyesight and anticipation of move of flying insects is
an art they have developed perfectly. That is why they change course instantly.
That is why they are fast and efficient hunters.
Their contribution to the environment is insect control, keep them under
check and let them have a balanced growth. They are considered to be lucky if
they nest near you and are revered by farmers.
Overall, these beautiful birds are now part of our society. How lucky
are those where they nest. The irony is that those people do not know it nor
are they interested to know.
When will they nest in our home? I wonder!!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS
Purchase from the mkt ready made dry nests , easy for birds to rest . If birds š¦ prepare during rainy season will be difficult in wet nests . Let them feel warm feel .
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, wire tailed swallows do not stay in ready made nests.
DeleteGood write Noel. You should see their nest soon. Best wishes....
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete