Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Barn Swallows (Hirondelles rustiques) Ready to face the World

30 July 2018

     When you work with Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) as much as I do, you develop a special attachment to the birds, and in a way they become like family.
     Many of the young birds that have hatched this year have left the nest but there are still several nests with young of various ages awaiting their chance at life. I was especially touched to see young birds right at the lip of their nests just trying to pick up courage to make that first flight into the great unknown. Some of their siblings have already left the nest. This one has made the flight from the nest to the window in the barn and is measuring up the outdoors, trying to figure out trees, grass and sky perhaps, a scampering squirrel, even the feel of raindrops, the gentle caress of the breeze. 


     Until now its entire world has been the confines of the cup nest where it was born.
     Two nests, side by side had birds ready to go. They were still being fed by their parents but try as I might I was unable to get a shot of the food exchange; it happens in the blink of an eye.
     First there was one.


     And then there were two.



     Nest No. 38 is right alongside Nest No. 39 and a similar level of trepidation gripped the occupants.




     By this morning, however, (31 July) all had left their nest to embark on the hazardous journey of life. Sadly many of them will not survive to even migrate out of Canada, but those that do will be the healthiest and fittest, ready to pass on their genes to subsequent generations of Barn Swallows. 
    We have done our best to help them on their way and we hope to continue to accumulate knowledge that will enable us to help them to survive for generations to come.
     A Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) entertained me as I waited to take pictures of the swallows.


     And it was joined by a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), a species which seems to be uncommon this year.



     A male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) came for a drink. I am assuming this is a bird we banded earlier in the spring.


     I know you will all join me in wishing our swallows favourable winds and a bounty of insects. May they grace our skies forever.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

38 comments:

  1. Thank you, and all the other conservationists world wide.
    And of course my positive wishes are winging their way to the swallows.

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  2. I do send my best wishes for your swallows. Cyndi (daughter) has several swallow houses and I have tried so hard to get pictures (any pictures)... but.... you know that if someone with your talent has problems catching the little speedy things that someone with my lack of eye-hand dexterity is usually doomed to fail. I just try to remember when we used to be thrilled just to SEE birds and did not feel as if we had to have a good picture to make it real.

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    1. The best part of all is still just seeing the birds, Sallie. I am sure that no one has viewed them with a more appreciative eye than you.

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  3. Un precioso reportaje amigo David y como bien dices toca enfrentarse a la vida, y probablemente alguna no lo consiga y otras si. Que bien saber y poder comprobar el próximo año el regreso de alguna de ellas.
    Un abrazo David

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  4. Åter igen en så vacker text David! "into the great unknown" mitt sentimentala jag får tårar i ögonen när dessa små och oerfarna fåglar till slut vågar ta språnget. Ett stort ögonblick när detta sker, ett av naturens många underverk som alltid gör mig fylld av vemod men även förundran.

    Än visslar våra tornseglare över oss varje dag men nu är det snart dags för avsked, plötsligt en morgon är det tyst i luften. Jag önskar dem lycka till på den långa färden och hoppas vi ses igen nästa vår.

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  5. Hi David.


    Beautiful the Barn Swallows.
    Beautiful the butterflies and the putter.

    Groettie from Patricia.

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  6. I certainly do wish those little swallows favourable winds and a bounty of insects.

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  7. A beautifully written, and delightfully illustrated piece, David. You have done all you can (thank you!) and the rest is up to Nature. I wish these wonderful birds a safe future from all the hazards ahead of them.

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  8. What a lovely post, good luck to them all!

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  9. I liked your picture of a nest 38, David. Lovely young swallows, I have not seen them here for a while, it's a pity.
    Happy August!

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  10. Enjoyed seeing all the pictures:)

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  11. Hello, my thanks to you for all you do to help the birds. I wish good luck to your swallows. They are so cute. Happy August, enjoy your day and week ahead!

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  12. I can see that my blogfriend Gunilla writes in swedish, David. I have seen so many strange translations on google, so I don't trust them ;)
    So I try my best to write in english to you.
    Beautiful swallows! They live in my neighbours barn, and I watch them every day through the summer. I love the sound of them.

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    1. And you do very well in English, Marit. i agree that Google translator is not the best, but I think I always get the fundamental part of Gunilla’s lovely comments.

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  13. I appreciate all the work you all do for the welfare of the birds. It's so nice to see them and know that they have quite a fan base rooting for them as they learn the lessons of flight and survival.
    Have a wonderful day!

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  14. Hi David, what a lovely and poetic written story about the Barn swallows, I share the hope you have. The photo's are lovely and the young birds are so cute maybe because to look a bit shy (can't blame them). Furthermore You seem to have wonderful butterflies, beautiful species and absolutely a nicy company while watching the swallows.
    Hope they become healthy adults and that you'll see them again next year.

    Kind regards,
    Marianne

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  15. Beautiful Swallow chicks, I love them. And, the butterflies, fantastic.

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  16. Hi David,
    Super post with your Barn Swallows, you cannot help but get attached to the birds, I do with both the Barn Owls and Ospreys.
    I'm sure that you and friends could not do more and we all wish them all the best and hope to see them in your barn next year raising young.
    All the best, John

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  17. Such a lovely post, David.
    And offcourse I wish your (and all) swallows good winds and a lot to eat.
    Hopefully you'll see them coming back.

    Best regards, Corrie

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  18. What a great post David, and I really do hope they may grace our skies forever...

    All the best Jan

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  19. Hi David
    Beautiful story about the lovely little Barn-swallows! Thank you for al your work to make this to a Success story. I do hope they will come back next year !
    And such Stunning butterflies, lovely !
    Thank you for sharing,
    Best regards, Maria

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  20. Hi David - I certainly endorse your wish ... as the birds travel south on the wind of kindess - meeting I hope lots of insects along the way .. here's to them - cheers Hilary

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  21. I love the series of swallow photos they are fantastic. I am sure they will travel safely and you will see tham back next year. Your Goldfinch is so diffeent to ours in colouring.
    David we just seem to have a lot on at home, painting still not quite finished, and now the barn to restore and remove the worm eaten second floor. Temperatures still rising here as well the car is reading over 40C every time we take it out! I will return to proper blogging I hope eventually, but other worries in the UK with an aging FIL (97)who has Alzmeimers.
    Best wishes to you both Diane

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  22. I appreciate your empathy and understanding of these birds, David, and wish them well. It's like a parable of life, the nest may be cosy but eventually you have to leave and find your own way.

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  23. WoW!!! i really enjoyed this post, i deep peak into your tender side. you have captures some really amazing images, their nests are so interesting!!!

    this is a truly wonderful program, and along with you, i wish them the best!!!

    i also enjoyed your other pictures, the goldfinch is our state bird here in new jersey!!

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  24. It's like watching your own kid take his first steps! Viola little swallows!

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  25. Hello David .. I found you from Nadezda's blog, what gorgeous pictures you have here of these beautiful little birds ! .. plus the butterflies .. perfect ! I'm glad to have caught up with you .. we love our little feathered guests in our own back garden and especially the Goldfinches .. they light up the garden with their colour.

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  26. Hi David,
    I can imagine that it is interesting to follow the behaviour of the swallows from the beginning to the moment that they are leaving their nests. But above all it is pleasant to see a lot of offspring growing up and starting to prepare for their long lasting journey. Now that they are all banded they probably bring you some information after some time.
    Greetings, Kees

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  27. Keep up the good work David. I hope that by next year you are ringing some of their sandy-coloured cousins.

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  28. Beautiful photos as always and I love the idea that your barn swallows feel like family. That's beautiful! Thanks for visiting me, too! Always nice to see you there!

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  29. Wow what images! Love the little swallows. And Monarch and American Goldfinch are so colorfull.

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  30. Vvery good tracking on the barn swallow nests that is my favorite swallow. Fortunately there is a population that breeds in my area and every time that behavior is expanding, so I will wait until spring arrives and make their nests, which here is usually under bridges and sewers. Very good photos. A hug

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  31. Hola David, hermosas fotos, yo adoro las Golondrinas y me encanta verlas llegar, sus vuelo a tu alrededor es como un maravilloso saludo. Sin duda son especiales. Todas las fotos son espectaculares. Abrazos.

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  32. Hello David,
    Beautiful pictures with the swallows but also the butterflies are really great to see! These butterflies we only see in a tropical butterfly garden but with you they just fly in the open nature :-) I'm a little jealous of your beautiful (Spinus tristis).
    It was again enjoying your photos.
    Sweet greetings and a hug xo

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  33. I am always pleased to watch your fantastic photos and learn something new about your observations of nature!
    Greetings

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