When a pair of swallows took interest in a barn outside the NatureSpy office this May, we immediately got a camera trap ready.
This time however, we used the time-lapse function on a Ltl Acorn 6210MC – the idea being that we could capture a picture every hour or so and after a few months condense the pictures into just a few minutes – telling the complete story of a pair of swallow’s efforts to raise a brood. Have a look at the video below…
Click for video
The results were just what we hoped. After almost two months, we had captured the nest being built, the eggs being laid and incubated, and the 4 chicks growing and fledging.
However, a few camera adjustments were necessary due to knocks at the bottom of the tripod and even the swallows themselves using the camera as a perch…
One swallow on the camera, the other on the nest…
It took quite a while before the eggs were laid and hatched, and the first we knew this had happened was these being chucked over the side…
Some of the discarded egghells
We also caught some ‘synchronised pooping’ – with all 4 chicks going at the same time…!
All together now…
It’s fantastic to think that these 4 fledgling and their parents will be making the trip to Africa shortly and we’re hoping we see them again next year…
