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Nesting of Pacific Swallows – Successful nest building

on 11th June 2011

“Recently I posted my observations on the failed nesting of a pair of Pacific Swallows (Hirundo tahitica) LINK.

“Almost immediately after the failed nesting, I noticed another one was being constructed a few feet away on the electrical trunking, which houses electrical cables, just below the ceiling of the ground floor car park deck in one of the blocks in my condo (above).

“I was extremely fortunate in the sense that I was there, on 1st May 2011 at about 8.45 am, to witness its construction almost right from the start. The birds were seen applying a mixture of mud, parts of grass and perhaps their own saliva on the vertical surface of the trunking. It was a bit like applying icing on cakes, for those who have such experience.

“By 9.25 am, there was much progress as seen from the attached image (top). Some of the building materials which inevitably fell on the floor below, is shown in the close up (left).

“A video of the beginning of the nest building can be viewed below.

“By the 5th day, the mud wall was substantially completed, as seen in the video below.

“On the 7th day, the swallows were seen bringing in plant materials to weave the nest cup (top right).

“A short video showing the birds weaving the lining of the nest cup can be viewed below.”

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
6th June 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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