Parents bid their winged offspring a heartfelt goodbye in a poignant video of birds taking flight
In the heart of Stuttgart, the city's swift and swallow populations have been capturing the attention of local residents and bird enthusiasts alike, thanks to the ongoing Muse-Os Gablenberg series. This fascinating documentation, now in its fifth part, offers a unique insight into the lives of these aerial creatures during the 2025 breeding season.
The series, which can be found on several articles at irregular intervals, follows eight swift families over a two-month period. With a wingspan of approximately 35 centimeters and weighing around 40 grams, these agile birds are estimated to cover an astonishing 200,000 kilometers annually. However, their journey has not been without challenges.
The swifts from Stuttgart-Gablenberg have fledged after roughly 40 days of growth, but their lives have been documented through various highs and lows. Regrettably, only half of the initially followed chicks have survived, with two falling prey to a tower falcon that has been lurking in the roof of the local history museum.
The tower falcon, a known predator, has taken four chicks from nest boxes equipped with cameras, specifically from numbers 1, 3, 7, and 15 on July 20. It is presumed to have struck in two other boxes without video surveillance as well. This predation can significantly impact local swift populations, depending on falcon abundance and hunting success, although exact survival rates vary widely by region, species, and time.
Meanwhile, the two chicks from nest box 3 have defied the odds, surviving and starting their lives outside. The first chick fledged on July 15, followed by its sibling a day later. As they reach the typical age of 42 days for swallow chicks to leave the nest, it is expected that they will soon join a flock and embark on their journey to Africa, where swifts spend the winter months.
For those interested in more detailed, up-to-date information on this specific topic, it is recommended to consult local wildlife or bird conservation groups in Stuttgart, German ornithological research publications, or environmental agencies monitoring urban bird populations in the city. At present, there is no available data on current conservation or monitoring measures specifically related to swift survival post-falcon attacks in Stuttgart.
In addition to the swallow blog, another exciting addition to the 2025 breeding season is the live stream on YouTube of the Stuttgart Swallows. This live stream switches between the four occupied nest holes, offering viewers a real-time glimpse into the lives of these fascinating birds.
For those who wish to learn more about the Muse-Os Gablenberg series, videos of particularly interesting sequences can be found on the website www.mauersegler-stuttgart.de. The series is a captivating testament to the resilience and adaptability of urban bird populations, providing a valuable window into the lives of Stuttgart's swifts and swallows.
Despite the challenges posed by a tower falcon, some swifts from the Stuttgart-Gablenberg nest boxes have managed to defy these obstacles and start their home-and-garden lives. As the breeding season comes to a close, these survivor swifts are expected to adopt a lifestyle of migration, joining the flocks for their annual journey to Africa.
