Page 14 - Issue 69 Online

Summer

Songbird

Schooling Common Swift

ummer for many people means spending Before school summer holidays are over, some
time with their children during the school of our breeding birds - such as Swifts - will
Sholidays. But for many of Manea’s wild already have set off on their return migrations
creatures, it is a time when offspring leave their southwards, after having gorged on insects to
parents for good, with young birds fledging and fuel them for their long journeys.
fending for themselves. Blackbirds may raise
two to three broods of youngsters in a single
year.

A key factor for bird success is food availability.
Some of our birds, like the Grey Heron, feed
on fish and amphibians. But the majority of
Manea’s birds are insect-eaters. Summer is the
prime time of year for insects because many
require warmer temperatures. For example, a Pigeon Squabs (A Tegala)
full-size dragonfly needs to reach 27°C before
it can fly; it increase its temperature by whirring Young pigeons are known as
its wings. squabs. Their parents feed
them on a fat-rich milk, which is
something very few birds do.

Adult Cuckoos leave the UK as early as June.
This is because they don’t actually raise their
own young. Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests
of other songbirds, primarily Reed Warblers;
Emperor Dragonfly (F Pestana) another African species. Reed Warblers nest

Wood Pigeons have a very long breeding season. in some of Manea’s reedy areas and are more
Their main nesting period runs from April until often heard than seen. Providing the Cuckoo
October but they have been recorded breeding egg resembles their own in size and appearance,
in every single month of the year. Young pigeons Reed Warblers will raise Cuckoo chicks as their
are known as squabs. Their parents feed them own.
on a fat-rich milk, which is something very few Ajay Tegala
birds do.

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