Houston, we have a problem...

It could be the thunderstorms of the last few day's or maybe training their wings pulled out a camera cable, the fact is that I receive no camerasignal anymore. I don't want to lift a rooftile and disturb the nest because maybe the young swifts won't survive that. They have an 11 day's stay at the nest before they leave. So I'm sorry to anounce that there will be no look inside the nest anymore for this 2007 season. :-(

What will happen the next days is that the young will train their wings by pushing their wingtips to the ground and the ceiling of their little "room". Finaly they will leave around july 22nd. They then stayed in the nest for 42 days. Their big trip to Africa will start then while the parents still stay on the nest at nightime. Last year the parents left 10 days after their young. I wonder if they will leave earlier this year. After all they are a bit late in the season. Maybe I'm lucky enough to observe. (Video of 2005 has moved to the most recent post of 2007)

Live video broadcast (disabled july 11 2007)

At this moment I test a way to broadcast a live videostream. Enjoy and tell me if you like it.

Halfway

Today the young are 22 days old. Just past half the nesttime. A young common swift stays for about 42 days on the nest to leave and never return. They even stay in the air for about two years. At that time the are old enough to mate and create a nest of their own. Once they left their nest, they probably stay around the colony for a few days, but sleep in the air at 1,5 km high. And then leave for Africa. No noise of cars and airplanes, but the sound of buffalos and elephants will surround them the rest of the year. Amazing birds!