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Young World
Swiftly summer
SARAH JOHN
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The Black Martins make their appearance in early May. These birds live their lives flying.
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Come summer, and the skies of northern Europe are practically never without the flying figures of Black Martins or Swifts. In fact, here in northern Germany, the first sighting of these birds in early May is the sign that summer is on its way. Called Mauersegler (wall-glider) in German, these birds live their lives flying. Occasionally they are seen hanging to the sides of walls. Brooding (to hatch the eggs) is the only time they are still. This sounds mind-boggling, and unbelievable, but researchers have confirmed the fact. Black in colour and resembling the swallow, these are small insect-eating birds with long narrow wings. They are part of the summer scenario in this part of Europe, and next to the talkative blackbirds and ringdoves, the commonest summer bird. Chosen bird of the year 2003 — the Swifts/Black Martins have come to be associated with the long summer evenings, with their shrill "sree-screee-screeee".
During the three months of summer in northern Europe, from early morning till late in the evening, they are seen gliding high in the sky or darting through the gullies in built-up areas shrieking and hunting for insects. It does sound incredible, but the Black Martin accomplishes everything, like eat, drink, bathe, make love and sleep in the air! During the nine months of the year, which the Black Martins spend in Africa, they are said never to touch ground. This has been researched and established as fact by scientists.
Many people mistake the Swift/Black Martin for the Swallow. The birds, which sit and rest on the electricity-cables are not Swifts but Swallows. The Swifts have `underdeveloped' feet. Using their sharp `claws' they can only hang on to the sides of walls. The Swifts do not sing like the swallows either. However, their movements look similar.
After the long and exhausting group-journey north from Africa, the Black Martins get busy right after arrival. Northern Europe is their breeding ground. Nests are built in crevices and holes in the façades and roofs of buildings, of lift materials like leaves, feathers, seeds, hair and their like, caught from the air while in flight. The females lay two to three eggs at a time. Flies, beetles, butterflies and spiders are caught in the air and ground and made into little patties to be fed to the little ones. The youngsters start flying early, and start training for the long flight back to Africa. Sometime during August, the Black Martins start their return journey, and disappear until the next May.
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