the martin occurs all over Europe as summer-bird as far as to the northern polar circle and in large sharing north and Mittelasiens as far as beyond the Baikalsees.
Zugverhalten On the train in the African hibernation-areas south from the Sahara, the martin can advance as far as to the cape of the good hope.
its arrival in Central Europe falls by the last third of April or beginning May. Already in the run of the August, immediately after the fully-fledged-development of the boys, the retreat takes place. The stay at the hatchery therefore lasts only three months.
Habitat The martins live in quite different biotopes, whose suitability for the food-offer and from the existence of Nistplätzen is determined. So, dry steppes and squander-similar landscapes offer like foliage-forests, culture-country or even cities of suitable habitats as well.
Way of life The birds live very sociably and fly extraordinarily fast with its long and narrow wings. its insect-hunts usually drive it silently highly in the air, otherwise they hunt around with short, sharp screams around trees, towers and buildings.
Reproduction The screams are the most loudly if the martins occupy its Nistplätze. they like to brood in colonies, thins out only as an exception. Under natural conditions, the nests are in steep rock-walls near together, at coasts, in steppes and deserts, yes, to find even in the high mountain region. In Eastern Europe and in Siberia's forest-areas, also tree-nests, that are positioned in tree-caves or abandoned woodpecker-caves, are very widespread. Certainly one must assume that the tree-nests were essentially more strongly widespread all over Europe earlier. The onward deforestation restricted this Nesttyp strongly, however, also Nistmöglichkeiten were created by increasing development simultaneously. Today, the martin usually broods in horizontal cavities at high stone-buildings, steeples and factory-chimneys. So, the birds are more frequent than on the country near big cities.
An accumulation from in the air constructs erhaschten feathers, stalks, leaves and other plant-sharing the Nistmaterial and becomes verleimt with saliva to a flat nest. Also existing nests frequently are used even if they are covered already by other birds. Remains on this occasion unclear in general whether the very location-loyal martin visits its last year's nest again or the Niststätte of another bird-pair rebuilds to its own one. Be certain that the brood is either thrown out of the nest by sparrows and even starlings frequently or their eggs are simply installed into the nest as well. If there are fights for the Nistplatz, the martin appears through corresponding use of its powerful wings and claws thinks.
Into the flat nest-hollow, the female puts its 2, more rarely 3 almost cylindrical eggs, that are not to be confused with other bird-eggs. The brood-duration normally amounts to 18-20 days; both partners change themselves on this occasion can be abstained from, so that on a mutual feeding. If the alto-birds must spend longer time with the forage with cold weather, the nest can also remain unsupervised. The eggs tolerate the hypothermia happening with it well; as natural consequence, the incubation lengthens through it up to altogether 27 days.
If the bare nest-stools slipped, they are looked after by the parents and initially also gehudert. The alto-birds carry insect-bales in the Kehlsack here and feed it at the boys. The squabs can still survive hunger-periods of 9 until 20 days, in which they live on its fat-reserves. its nestling-duration is extended with it in every case.
Bird-catch The boys fly out after 5-8 weeks and then are independent. In Italy, where the martins are in large quantity of the beach-rocks, particularly the meat of the fat boys is estimated as a delicacy. The birds are therefore fished, shot or caught in weitmaschigen nets.
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