Cliff
Swallow
(Petrochelidonpyrrhonota)
Photographed at, Toronto, Canada July 2008
The
gregarious Cliff Swallow nests in large colonies on buildings, cliffs, and
under bridges. The gourd-shaped mud nests can number up to several hundred or
thousand in a single location.
When
a Cliff Swallow has had a hard time finding food, it will watch its neighbours
in the nesting colony and follow one to food when it leaves. Although sharing
of information about food at the colony seems unintentional, when a swallow
finds food away from the colony during poor weather conditions it may give a
specific call that alerts other Cliff Swallows that food is available.
By
alerting other swallows to a large insect swarm an individual may ensure that
the swarm is tracked and that it can follow the swarm effectively.
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