Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 28, Feb Suppl. Issue, 2022; Page No.(1-5)

PARENTAL INVESTMENT OF ADULT BARN SWALLOW HIRUNDO RUSTICA RUSTICA AT NESTLING FEEDING IN THE URBAN LOCALITY OF EL BOUNI (NORTHEAST, ALGERIA)

Dadci Walid, Sakraoui Rym, Boukheroufa Mehdi, Abdallah Khadidja Wissal, Sakraoui Feriel and Tahar Ali

Abstract

The study on feeding frequency of nestlings of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica) was carried out in El-Bouni (36°51’11.36"N; 07°44’55.76"E), located in the south of the wilaya of Annaba. We used a camera attached to the nests, and we were able to record the daily feeding rate of breeding pairs of Barn Swallows in feeding their offsprings. We have observed that the parental effort is shared between feeding and sanitation, with moments of rest. The monitoring of the average daily feeding rate reveals that overall, the activity is more intense at noon, and this is explained by the abundance of flies during this time of day, and resume a little towards the end of the afternoon, due to the presence of aphids at the end of the day. The feeding frequency is according to the age of nestlings. This explains the fact that they are quickly satiated at noon to ask again at the end of the day, unlike when they are older, where they are in demand for more food, which is normal with their physiological development.