In Norfolk, a record-breaking May heatwave has proved deadly for swallow chicks, with many abandoning their nests in a desperate attempt to escape the rising temperatures. At a farm in Caistor St Edmund, adult swallows, which migrate from South Africa to breed in Britain's temperate climate, have been struggling to keep their young alive.
One chick, still a week away from fledging, was seen teetering on the edge of its nest under a tin roof. Unable to sweat, it opened its mouth to cool down before plunging to the ground. It survived the fall by landing on horse bedding, but its siblings, huddled against a wall, remain vulnerable to horses, cats, and dehydration.
In another barn, three chicks fell from a nest four metres high onto a concrete floor. One was found dead with flies gathering, while an adult bird flew protectively over the corpse. The heatwave, which has brought temperatures far above the seasonal norm, is disrupting food chains, drying up water sources, and stressing wildlife across the region.
Swallows typically raise two or three broods per season, but this first brood has been lost. The parent birds continue to bring insects for moisture and nutrition, but the extreme heat has overwhelmed their natural adaptations. The observer noted that while the weather may be enjoyable for humans, it is proving brutal for nature.
