In which seasons do swallows fly back from the south and wild geese fly south?

Swallows and wild geese are the two migratory birds humans like most, aside from common birds such as chickens, ducks, geese, sparrows, and cuckoos.In which seasons do swallows fly back from the south and wild geese fly south from the north?

According to ornithological data, swallows are most willing to approach humans, and humans protect these beneficial birds the most. They generally begin flying south around October to November to Hainan and regions further south, and from April to June they fly north from the islands to farmhouses near farmland to breed. Wild geese fly north around the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month (April on the solar calendar), and fly south in autumn, beginning around the 9th lunar month (October on the solar calendar).

The ancestral home of wild geese is in the Siberian region. Every autumn and winter, they migrate south in flocks. There are mainly two migration routes: one route goes from northeast China through the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins, reaching the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong, and even as far as the Malay Archipelago; the other route passes through Inner Mongolia and Qinghai in China, reaching Sichuan and Yunnan, and even as far as Myanmar and India to spend the winter. The next year, they travel the long distance back to Siberia to lay eggs and breed.

1. The swallow, scholarly name barn swallow, is the collective name for 74 species of birds in the family Hirundinidae of the order Passeriformes. They are small, with pointed narrow wings, forked tails, short beaks, weak small feet, and not too many feathers. Their plumage is a single color, or blue or green with a metallic sheen; most species have similar appearances in both sexes. Swallows spend a great deal of time catching pests in the air and are one of the most agile passerines, feeding mainly on insects such as mosquitoes and flies, and are well known as beneficial birds. They build nests in tree holes or crevices, or dig burrows in sandy banks, or in cities and villages stick mud onto walls or protrusions of corridors, rooftops, and eaves to make nests. They lay 3 to 7 eggs each time.

Barn swallows build nests under the eaves of farmhouses. The nest is mostly made of mud and grass stems carried in and bonded with saliva, lined with fine soft weeds, feathers, rags, and some sweet wormwood leaves. The nest is dish-shaped. They breed 2 clutches each year, mostly from May to early June and from mid-June to early July. Each clutch has 4 to 6 eggs. The second clutch has fewer, 2 to 5 eggs. The eggs are milky white. Both male and female incubate the eggs together. The chicks hatch in 14 to 15 days, and both parent birds feed them together. The nestlings fledge in about 20 days, and after 5 to 6 more days of feeding, they can feed themselves. Their food is all insects. The golden-rumped swallow resembles the barn swallow in shape but is slightly larger. This swallow has a chestnut-yellow rump that is very obvious and eye-catching, and its underparts have fine small dark streaks, making it easy to distinguish from the barn swallow. Its habits are also similar to the barn swallow's, but it mostly inhabits mountain villages. Swallows are typical migratory birds. After the breeding season ends, the young birds still follow the adults, gradually gathering into large flocks, and migrate south to spend the winter before the first cold wave arrives.

2. Wild geese, also called wild geese, swan class, are large migratory birds and are Class II nationally protected animals. Wild geese are full of enthusiasm and can encourage their companions, using calls to encourage their flying companions.

Wild geese belong to the class Aves, family Anatidae, and are the general name for various species in the subfamily Anserinae. Common ones in China include the swan goose, greylag goose, bean goose, and white-fronted goose. Goose flocks form groups of 6, or multiples of 6, and a goose flock is a collection of some families, or rather some groups.

There are 9 species of wild geese in the world, and China has 7 of them. Besides the white-fronted goose, common ones include the swan goose, bean goose, bar-headed goose, and greylag goose, commonly known among the people as “wild geese.” Wild geese are one of the bird groups people know well. During migration they always gather in tens, hundreds, or even thousands, flying in formation closely behind one another, which the ancients called a “goose formation.” The “goose formation” is led by an experienced “lead goose.” When accelerating, the flock forms a “V” shape, and once slowing down, the formation changes from a “V” shape to a long snake-like “line” shape. This is an effective measure taken for long-distance migration.

When the wings of the “lead goose” flying in front sweep through the air, a weak updraft is produced at the wingtips, and those lined up behind it can use this airflow in turn, thereby saving energy. But the “lead goose” has no such weak updraft to use and easily becomes tired, so during long-distance migration, the flock needs to frequently change formation and replace the “lead goose.” Their movements are very regular, sometimes calling while flying, constantly making “honk, honk” calls. Migration mostly takes place at dusk or at night, and along the journey they often choose larger bodies of water such as lakes to rest and seek food such as fish, shrimp, and aquatic plants. Each migration takes about 1 to 2 months, enduring countless hardships along the way. But they go north in spring and south in autumn, never breaking their promise. No matter where they breed or where they spend the winter, they always travel south and north very punctually.