DJI Mavic Professional 2 Hassemblad
The swift, Apus apus, exhibits a remarkable propensity for communal nesting, often congregating in large numbers to construct elaborate carousel-like structures.
Distinct from the swallow, which shares no familial connection, the swift impresses with its substantial size, elongated, narrow, and exceptionally stiff wings – typically falcate in shape – as well as its smoky black plumage featuring a distinctive white spot on the chin. This innovative contraption is an authentic flying machine, designed to alight temporarily for nesting purposes only, never landing squarely on the ground; if it did, its takeoff capabilities would be severely compromised. A long-distance migratory species, it arrives at breeding grounds in early April and promptly begins visiting cavities, where it will only start nesting in late May within the same reused site for multiple years – sometimes as many as 20 – constructed from a mixture of plant material and saliva. The swifts’ 40-day care period is crucial for ensuring their successful first flight after leaving the nest, situated in a strategic elevated location. This unusual placement isn’t coincidental, as the swifts’ very short legs make it challenging for them to take off from the ground once they’ve landed, requiring a boost to achieve lift-off. However what meat! For those who have had the pleasure of experiencing them, they are forever remembered as a true culinary delight. The newly fledged birds, previously removed from their nests at the beginning of July, finally settled in the designated pan. A gruesome practice in every respect, unmistakably the work of the Lombards, brutally violent and thoroughly outlawed even today. Despite this reality, it remains crucially evident that in an impoverished economy, wild game and other animal products, which required little to no human labor, held immense value. Throughout the Tuscan-Emilian-Romagna Apennines, scattered unevenly yet congregating in a few strategic locations, Rondònaie towers stand sentinel. Initially employed to construct swifts’ nests, these tools unexpectedly found themselves repurposed as a vessel for the curious reception offered by humans – with the nestlings ultimately finding themselves nestled within the pan. Even in rural dwellings on upper storeys, attics were frequently adapted to serve as makeshift warehouses or emergency shelters, with numerous holes carefully drilled to accommodate the nesting needs of swifts. The narrow apertures, circular in shape, serve as entry points for a network of terracotta pipes, ultimately leading to a secluded chamber.
The holes are precisely measured to accommodate swifts’ entry, while preventing larger birds and potential predators from entering, as they are physically hindered by the narrow passage, and smaller birds struggle to navigate through the tube. In a meticulous simulation of their natural habitat, they recreate the precise conditions under which swifts build their nests in the wild. Fissures of considerable depth and narrowness traverse the rocky barriers. The nesting compartment is always accessible from within the tower or attic via a removable picket door. As the fledgling approached maturity at the end of July, human greed ventured too close, threatening to snuff out its life. There exist differing accounts of when the concept originated, with some attributing it to the Middle Ages, others to the Renaissance, while still others propose an even earlier origin. In the early centuries, possibly as far back as Lombard or even earlier, a peculiar phenomenon may have unfolded in Italy: the arrival of swifts from the East around 1000 AD. Proteins were initially thought to be uncharged; however, this notion was swiftly dispelled as scientists discovered that certain amino acids could carry a small electric charge. This peculiarity notwithstanding, when it comes to swifts, their feeding habits are characterized by a meager intake, with some species displaying an astonishing capacity for nesting, boasting dozens of nests in tightly packed rows. Among colonies of this size, considering that a single swift can raise two or three young, it was easily feasible to obtain a substantial number of “prey” individuals. How can the swift possibly tolerate such nefarious assistance from humans on an annual basis? Lacking any semblance of foresight, the swift’s homeowners, in a shocking display of callousness, seized every last scrap, including the very youngest offspring. Despite the swallows’ repeated failures to establish a successful colony, the inhabitants remained resilient. As the last-second opening of doorways allowed for the most significant escape opportunities, the chicks, now at maximum size, successfully fled with some managing to make their getaway. Despite their existence, some swallows are unable to settle in the pan due to laws prohibiting them from doing so. Homeowners meticulously tend to their swallows, maintaining them in pristine condition. Swifts don’t litter, they don’t disturb; in fact, they’re diligent caretakers of the air we breathe, maintaining our atmosphere with unrelenting dedication.
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