Colony fidelity and interchange in the Sand Martin

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Abstract
The majority of sand martins breed within a few kilometers of their natal colony and continue to breed in the vicinity. A minority disperse further, with about 2 in every hundred young birds and 1 in 200 adults breeding more than 100 km from their original colony of ringing. The median settlement distance of dispersing young birds is approximately 6 km and of adults approximately 3 km. More females move than males. Small numbers of Continental and British birds change colony across the eastern part of the English Channel and the southern North Sea. The site fidelity and dispersal is believed to have evolved in response to the transient nature of the nesting sites and is assisted by the familiarization with the natal area built up by young birds during their 1st-autumn wanderings.