The EURING Swallow Project

EURING decided to test the cooperation of European ringers, and started the EURING Swallow Project. All ringers in Europe, and gradually also the ringers of the rest of the world, can participate in the project should they wish to. The aim of the project is to learn more about this bird loved everywhere. The study focuses on all three stages of the annual cycle: breeding, migration and wintering. The project is based on the voluntary work of the bird ringers, and will last for five years. The pilot year of the project was 1997, and the official starting year 1998. Finland has been a member of this project from the beginning.

The number of ringed Swallows started to increase in Finland as soon as the project started. A number of five figures was reached for the first time in the pilot year 1997: 10,853 ringings. In 2002 a record-breaking number of 40,228 swallows were ringed. Of these, 14 % were ringed as nestlings. Of these, 19 % were ringed as nestlings. During 2005 only 8,839 swallows were ringed, but the project continues in 2006.

The swallow project has already contributed the following:

• Swallows are very true to their nest site, i.e. a large part of the adults return every year to nest at the same place,
• The Swallows breed on a regular twice per summer basis. However, the second set's relative amount of all occupied nests varies according to area and year,
• Nestlings from the first set start their migration a lot slower than nestlings from the second set, which migrate immediately upon learning how to fly,
• Hybrids between Swallows and House Martins are not as rare as was previously believed. In fact, nestling hybrids have also been found.

The Swallow project offers a chance for training ringing in practice. Contact a ringer working in your area, encourage him to take part in the Swallow project and volunteer as a trainee!

Publications

• Saurola, P. 1998: Pääskyjen perässä kattotuoleilta ruovikkoon. EURINGin haarapääskyprojektin toteutuminen Suomessa 1997 (Summary: The EURING Swallow Project in Finland in 1997). - Linnut 33(2):18-24.
• Saurola, P. 1999: EURINGin haarapääskyprojektin toteutus Suomessa 1999 (Summary: The EURING Swallow Project in Finland in 1999). - Linnut-vuosikirja 1999:57-66.
• Saurola, P. 2000: EURINGin haarapääskyprojektin toteutus Suomessa 2000 (Summary: The EURING Swallow Project in Finland in 2000). - Linnut-vuosikirja 2000: 82-90.
• Saurola, P. 2002: EURINGin haarapääskyprojekti vuonna 2001 (Summary: The EURING Swallow Project in Finland in 2001). - Linnut-vuosikirja 2001: 42-48.
• Saurola, P. 2003: EURINGin haarapääskyprojekti vuonna 2002 (Summary: The EURING Swallow Project in Finland in 2002). - Linnut-vuosikirja 2002: 103-108.