On a warm summer evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon on the southern shore of Gülper See (Lake Guelpe) young Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) perched precariously on a rusty wire, its tiny wings quivering with anticipation. The scene was alive with the twittering of swallows, but the juveniles all had a singular focus: food. With its mouth agape, it called out incessantly, its cries rising above the chorus—a signal to its parents soaring above.
The Barn Swallow is a species well-known for its graceful flight and long migrations, traveling from Europe and Asia to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter months. The species is easily recognizable by its cobalt-blue upperparts and cinnamon underparts. In the breeding season, young swallows like this one are often seen perched in wait, their short tails distinguishing them from the forked tails of adults. Their behavior, marked by persistent begging calls, is not just a display of hunger but also a critical learning phase. During these moments, they hone their coordination and strengthen the wing muscles necessary for their future journeys.
As the young swallow continues to plead, the adult finally descends, delivering insects like the dragonflies of the image mid-air with incredible precision. This fleeting moment, though routine in the life of swallows, encapsulates the delicate balance of nature—an interplay of instinct, care, and survival. The young swallow’s cries will soon transform into the swift and agile flights that define its species, continuing the cycle of life high above the fields and rivers of its habitat.
Lake Gülper was intended to be observed for migrating birds at the end of August. Waders had been shown up already with Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Calidris minuta), Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), 1 Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) and 1 Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) on the sands on the banks of the southern shore. The highlights were a Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) and a Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa). The southern shore of Lake Gülpe were crowded at this time of the year by thousands of resting geese, predominantly Greylag Goose (Anser anser), some in late stages of moult.
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