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3 million Barn Swallows!
Alan Manson

3 million Barn Swallows! (Hirundo rustica)

Well, this is just some of the 3 million Barn Swallows that use a wetland at Mount Moreland as a roost. The site has become a popular place for sundowners while you watch the spectacle; up to 3 million birds coming in to South Africa's largest Barn Swallow roost. The numbers were estimated last April (just before the birds left for Europe) using radar in a project looking at potential risk to aircraft from a proposed airport.

More info at http://www.kznbirding.co.za/ethr_Mount_Moreland.htm and http://www.5050.co.za/inserts.asp?ID=7655
Click to expand...
Habitat
Wetland
Location
Mount Moreland, north of Durban, South Africa
Date taken
5 April 2008
Scientific name
Hirundo rustica
Equipment used
Canon 400D, Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM
AlanR
Great shot.
How do you count 3 000 000 birds?
Alan
[I know, count the wings and divide by two!]
 
megan perkins
When I saw the caption I thought it had to be this roost!Amazing photo Alan - let's hope they don't become another casualty of "progress".
 
A
Alan hi,
saw a similar spectacle over sugar cane fields on the southern border of Kruger Park in Nov06. Absolutely astonishing. Wish I had a photo as good as yours of it!
Allan
 
CollinBax
Nice shoot Alan.
It's a pity about the airport. Studies apparently say we could lose this phenomena if the airport is built.
 

Media information

Category
Africa
Added by
Alan Manson
Date added
View count
117
Comment count
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