Colonie de Martinets pâles Apus pallidus et restauration de l'Hôtel-Dieu à Toulouse

Since its discovery in 1966 and subsequent description by G. AFFRE in 1967 the Toulouse Pallid Swift colony has not been specifically studied. The stability of this small continental population away from the main coastal Mediterranean stronghold of the species could have been of interest. Restoration works to the front of the old Hotel-Dieu started a precise monitoring of the population in 1998 and 1999. In 1998 breeding cavities where identified and measures to exclude pigeons were proposed and carried out. These modifications to the breed-ing cavities were well accepted by the birds. Some breeding cavities were modified in the 1999 winter. Renovated as well as old cavities were occupied during the 1999 breeding season. Some data on the breeding biology of the species are presented; the main difference to the original study 30 years ago concerns the earlier departure of the more numerous birds in the autumn which now leave the site before mid-October.