These particular exhibits at the Kauno Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum are turning 106 years old this year! They were added to the museum’s collections way back on June 28, 1920. The label, written more than a century ago, notes that these swifts were found in Vilijampolė, Kaunas.
Common swifts do much more than hunt insects in the air—they also drink, mate, and sometimes even sleep while flying. It is believed that these birds can spend up to 10 months a year without ever touching the ground or landing on buildings. Their long, narrow wings and streamlined bodies allow them to reach high speeds and manoeuvre with remarkable agility while catching prey in flight. Although the common swift may resemble a swallow at first glance, the two are not closely related. Evolutionary and genetically, swifts are much closer to hummingbirds.
To get some rest, common swifts ascend to altitudes of several kilometers in the evening and switch on “autopilot”–one hemisphere of their brain rests while the other remains active and controls the flight.
The Latin name of its genus, Apus, translates from Greek as “footless”. If this bird accidentally lands on a smooth, flat surface, it may find it very difficult to take off again.
Although the common swift is still a fairly common summer bird, its survival is closely linked to the availability of suitable nesting sites. The renovation of old buildings, sealed openings, and the loss of hiding places can make nesting in urban areas increasingly difficult for these birds. Even these familiar city flyers remind us of the importance of preserving not only natural habitats but also the nesting sites that have developed within human-made environments, as well as providing nest boxes designed specifically for swifts.
We invite you to watch these urban birds soaring across the sky—after all, they spend only about three months of the year in our country. And if you would like to take a closer look at these remarkable birds, visit the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum!
