The swallow family (Hirundinidae) includes around 80 species, and Croatia is home to five of them. They are skilled and agile fliers that feed on various flying or airborne insects and spiders. Most swallows are migratory; they winter in Africa and nest in our region.
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the house martin (Delichon urbicum) can be seen nesting in the Plitvice Lakes National Park area. Swallows stay closer to farms, in barns and haylofts, while house martins prefer residential and other buildings for their nests.
The Park’s Professional Service Department has been monitoring the condition of swallows and house martins in the Park area for many years. Every year, from late May to the end of June, it counts the nests of these species.
The population status of these species in the Park is stable, which means there is an abundance of food and suitable nesting sites.