A swallow chick, its mouth gaping, leans perilously over the edge of the nest cup. It is young, just a scrap of body, and at least a week away from being ready to fledge. But under the tin roof, the heat is rising, becoming unbearable. The chick perches on the edge, opening and closing its mouth, trying to stay cool without sweat glands. Then, whether it overbalances seeking cooler air or makes a conscious decision, it plunges down, dropping with no hope of flight. Somehow it misses the hard breezeblock ledge and lands on the horse bedding below.
Desperate Measures in Record Heat
This scene unfolded at Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk, during a record-breaking week of May heat. The last to bail from the nest, the chick shuffles along to join its two scrabbly siblings huddled against the wall. They are utterly vulnerable to horse hooves, the yard cat, and the ongoing risk of overheating and dehydration. The parent swallows still do their best, swooping in with insects that bring both nutrition and moisture.
At another swallow nest in the feed barn, three more chicks have bailed from a height of about four metres onto a concrete floor. When checked later, a small body lies on the hard floor, flies already gathering. An adult bird flits back and forth over the corpse, threatening to dive-bomb anyone who gets too close. This brood will be a disaster; only hope remains for a second or third clutch to succeed.
Climate Change Disrupts Natural Cycles
It is only 10am in a week of unprecedented May heat. While such weather might be enjoyable for humans, it is brutal for nature. It dehydrates animals, dries up soil and ponds, disrupts food chains, stresses trees, and scorches plants. These swallows left the heat of South Africa for Britain's plentiful insect supply and supposedly temperate spring and summer. This level of heat is not what they have evolved for.
Adult swallows travel across the world to breed in Britain's temperate climate, but this week's temperatures have been deadly. The chicks, far from ready for life outside the nest, are forced to abandon it prematurely. The parent birds continue their efforts, but the odds are stacked against them.
A Heartbreaking Reality
Nature is harsh, and caring does not change a thing, but the observer admits to being more than a little heartbroken. This event underscores the broader impact of the climate crisis on wildlife, as extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe. The loss of these chicks is a small but poignant example of the challenges facing species worldwide.
Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024, is available now.
