Colony size and reproductive biology of the Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia, in Saskatchewan

Abstract

Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia) nesting along the Qu'Appelle River valley in southeastern Saskatchewan in 1980 and 1981 had a mean colony size of 7.7 nests, which is much smaller than reported from other areas. The small size of colonies is due to the absence of large banks. Clutch size, nest success, and number of young fledging per nest in this population indicate a high breeding success comparable to other areas, showing that large are not necessary for high reproductive success