World Clock
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One sunny morning Pookie awakened in his cozy work-basket bed to hear Belinda calling: “Pookie, wake-up! Come outside quickly!” “Pookie! Come and see! The Swallows have come back!” cried Belinda. “Summer is here at last!” Pookie and the Swallows By Ivy L. Wallace My love affair with Barn Swallows began at an early age with my mother reading to me at bedtime from one of my favourite Pookie Books. If you remember these books you must have been born in the 50’s! It was with delight that I found the property we purchased came complete with a small colony of Barn Swallows. They return each spring to build their special mud cup-like nests against the beams of the old drive shed that has been a part of this property long before the house. They are likely the descendents of Barn Swallows that have been nesting here for many decades. Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) are found on all continents except Antarctica. Farmers appreciate them for their insect hunting skills that protect crops. Before humans provided the barn-like structures they prefer, they likely nested in caves. In mid April we start to turn our eyes to the skies and tune our ears to hear that friendly kvik-kvik, wit-wit that heralds for us the true beginning of the warm summer season. After the first scout appears to check things out he is followed by a couple of dozen Barn Swallows that at first swoop and circle high around our garden before settling into their shed to choose nesting sites. Barn Swallows catch insects while in flight and watching their acrobatics and maneuvers is endlessly fascinating. And we finally we can sit outside without being bothered by biting mosquitoes and blackflies as just a single Barn Swallow can catch several hundred insects in a day! Around the end of June and the beginning of July the hungry chicks are born and hang their heads out of their fluff lined nests with their mouths wide open. I usually see 4-5 chicks to a nest. Both parents bring food tirelessly at this time. At the end of a busy day the adults and fledged juveniles gather along the gutter of the greenhouse chatting, flying out to snatch a meal and enjoying their community. Their numbers steadily increase over the summer as more young Barn Swallows join them for lessons on flying and learning to catch their own food. The adults are patient teachers and show great caring and concern. Any hapless cat that might appear in the garden is soon dive-bombed until it skulks away. The group will rise to action if a hawk should appear and sail off into the air to ensure the hawk changes his flight plans! By mid autumn they start to gather in even larger groups as other Barn Swallows that nested elsewhere join them. We have counted well over 100 at this time. We know that any day now they will disappear as suddenly as they return and a quiet stillness will replace the happy chatter of our beloved Barn Swallows. “We shall miss the Swallows, but we mustn’t feel sad Pookie dear. We know that the Swallows are well and happy, and they are doing what they must do, and they will come back.” Written by Pixc Ref: Birder’s World vol. 18 – Issue 4 RE: Nest photos-telephoto lens set at 400mm