In fact, the south where swallows fly is not the north and south of Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River, which we often say. South is just a relative term. Generally, swallows in our country fly to South Asia or Southeast Asia, like Hainan in our country, and some can even fly over the equator to the southern hemisphere.
Generally speaking, in autumn before winter comes, swallows always travel long distances every year-flying from the north to the far south in droves. The time for swallows to fly south varies according to different regions. For example, the northeast started in mid-August, and Shandong started after September.
On the surface, winter in the south is warmer, while winter in the north is colder. Swallows have to fly to the south to avoid the cold for the winter, and then return to the north from the south when spring blossoms. In fact, this is only one reason, and the root cause is food. Swallows feed on insects, and there are no flying insects for swallows to prey on in winter in the north.
The living habits of swallows
Swallows are very flexible. They spend a lot of time hunting in the air every day. They mainly live in tree holes and sand dikes, and also stick mud on the walls of urban and rural corridors, roofs and eaves, or build nests in prominent places. They feed on mosquitoes and flies and will take the initiative to attack specific prey; They usually breed from April to July, and parents feed their young birds together, each laying 3 to 7 eggs; After winter, they will move to a warm place for the winter.
Domestic swallows will nest under farmers' eaves. They will use saliva to bond soil and grass stems, which are covered with soft weeds, feathers, rags and so on. And some Artemisia annua leaves. From 14 to 15 days, chicks will be hatched and fed by their parents. The chicks fly out in about 20 days and can feed themselves in 5 ~ 6 days.