本研究主要以探討棲息於新竹地區家燕（Hirundo rustica gutturalis Scopoli）繁殖概況及用巢喜好為目的。
民國90年繁殖成功率為69﹪，繁殖失敗有24巢（13﹪），33個空巢（18﹪）。民國91年繁殖季自3月17日至7月29日止共135天，繁殖成功率為73﹪，繁殖失敗有15巢（8﹪），空巢數有34巢（19﹪）。家燕在繁殖季中呈現兩次「繁殖高峰」，各在5月中及6月初，前者峰
度較高。
家燕窩卵數通常4-5個（80﹪），孵化期約需14天，孵化數多為4-5隻（82﹪），孵化率為總產卵數的88﹪；育雛過程約需25天，成功離巢數以3-4隻最多（74﹪），離巢率為幼雛孵化數的72﹪，在繁殖季中兩個繁殖週期間有極顯著的差異，而三樣區間及年間比較則無顯著差異。
剛孵出的幼雛，體重平均1.61±0.06 g、體長平均34.63±1.1㎜、翼長平均5.37±0.90㎜、跗蹠長平均4.43±0.71㎜、喙寬平均6.73±0.90㎜。
家燕成長階段中各項指數成長曲線為：體重 = 18.90/ (1+16.81) [exp(-0.47t)]；體長 = 18.92 / (1+16.28) [exp(-0.47t)] ;
翼長 = 87.3 (1+21.83) [exp(-0.28t)]；喙寬 = 16.27 (1+2.20) [exp(-0.31t)]；跗蹠長= 1.10/ (1-0.68) [exp(-0.42t)]
燕巢離地面高度在3公尺以上，多築在一樓（82.7﹪），通常有明顯基底（89﹪），一個建築物中以築一個燕巢最多（57.1﹪），築二個燕巢次之（31.0﹪），家燕使用舊巢繁殖比例高達80﹪。
整個繁殖季中鐵架巢空巢率33%，非鐵架巢21%；鐵架巢總成功率為61﹪；非鐵架巢總成功率則為71﹪。

The Barn Swallow（Hirundo rustica）visit Taiwan from late spring to late autumn are summer breeders, which distribute mostly on low land region.　Their nests always on different kinds building locate in the city or village. I studied their breeding biology in Hsin-Chu city from 2001 to 2002.　I have three study sites in the city, they are the city center（Hsueh-Fu Road）, suburban area（Yuan-Pei Street）and seaside village (Hua-Chiang Street).
In 2001 with incomplete breeding season survey, I have 185 nests, 129 nests success (69%), 24 nests failure (13%), the other 33 nests were in empty state all the year (18%).　In 2002 with complete breeding period survey, the breeding season began from March 17th to July 29th, total with 135 days.　In 2002, there were 131 nests success (73%), 15 nests failure (8%); the other 34 nests were in empty state all the year (19%).
The complete breeding season have two peak of high breeding activities, first one in the mid of May and the second in the beginning of Jane. The first peak is about half stronger than the late one. The beginning of the breeding season varied in different year, in 2002 the breeding season about two weeks earlier than 2001. The Barn Swallow’s eggs were elongated elliptical.　The color is white with red-brown spots, per egg weight 1.56±0.06g , and measure 19.36×13.02㎜. The mean clutch size was 4.53±0.90, most of them were 4-5 (80%).　In a year, late breeders with smaller clutch size than the early breeders.　The incubation period of Barn Swallow was 14±0.99 days.　Mean hatching number was 4.21±0.89（n=195）, most of them were 4-5(82%). The nestling period was 25.11±1.35 days.　Mean fledged success was 3.32±0.90, most of them 3-4(74%).　The year-fledged success was 63% of the total eggs.
The early hatchings with body weight 1.61±0.06 g, body length 34.63±1.1 mm, wing length 5.37±0.90 mm, bill width 6.73±0.90 mm, tarsus length 4.43±0.71 mm.
The logistic growth curve of young was:
Body weight= 18.90/ (1+16.81) [exp(-0.47t)];Body length= 18.92 / (1+16.28) [exp(-0.47 t)] Length of wing=87.3 (1+21.83) [exp(-0.28t)]; Bill width= 16.27 (1+2.20) [exp(-0.31t)]; Length of tarsus= 1.10/ (1-0.68) [exp(-0.42t)]
Most of the buildings only with one nest (57%), sometimes there might be two (31.0%).　A new nest was weight about 213.9±30.0g.　In Hsin-chu city, 80% of old nest was reuses to breed in a year.　Most of the nests look like half of a
bowl inlaid on the wall (89%).　The nest builds on the wall higher than 3m, mostly on the first floor (82.7%), the distance between the nest and ceiling were 8.59±5.12cm but with some difference between the city center and seaside
area. Nest under the iron sheet was common in Hsin-chu city, 55 nests, and 28.4% of total.　The empty rate and nest success of early breeding season was 47% and 47% respectively. The empty rate and nest success of later breeding season was 76% and 21% respectively. The empty rate of the nest under iron sheet was 33%, higher than normal nest with 21%. The nest success of the nests under the iron sheet was 61%, lower than normal nest with 71%.

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