The Swallow
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Ahh, the Swallow, they transport me back to 1990’s when a little girl called Brooke was enthralled and yet terrified by a video -yes I am that old - of Thumbelina. Remember Jacquimo? He was gorgoues wasn’t he. So dapper a swallow he was. It was the beetle calling her tuts that gave me the creeps.
Anyway, Swallows, let’s delve a little deeper shall we? If you're turning the page on your Garden Birds Calendar today then a swallow is just the bird you'll see.
I do encounter Swallows a lot more since moving in with the farmer, they nest in the barns and dive over the muck heaps catching bugs. They magically emit a feeling of warmth don’t they? A feeling of safety, it must hark back to the days when summers were good times and winters hard and lean. The swallow meant finally summer is here, that hungry gap between root vegetables and spring greens has ended, we survived.
You can tell the barn swallow apart from the martins and swifts by it’s extra long forked tail feathers. The swallow has a deep rich blue back, a warm orange face and cut a slender silhouette when parked on a telephone cable. Found on every continent except for the chilly Antarctica. Barn Swallows prefer the comforting company of us humans, nesting in our barns and other buildings where they can find cosy shelter. They craft little mud nests and lovingly line them with soft feathers, making them snug as a bug in a rug! When autumn rolls around, they gather their things and up and leave, migrating thousands of miles to find warmer less grey cold wet britishy winters. They have a remarkable knack for navigation; I envy them, I still regularly have to use google maps to find our local Lidl. Come spring they will use the sun, stars, and even Earth's magnetic field to guide their way back home.
Natural History of the Barn Swallow:
The barn swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world.
Recognizable by its deeply forked tail and glossy blue upperparts, it migrates thousands of miles between Europe and Africa each year.
It has been a companion of rural life for centuries, nesting in barns and outbuildings.
Traditionally seen as a sign of good luck and prosperity—a swallow nesting in a barn was said to protect the home.
They are skilled fliers, feeding on insects mid-air and often flying low over fields and water.
Charming Quotes & Sayings:
"The swallow is the harbinger of summer, the joy of open skies."
— Traditional English saying"Where the swallows go, summer follows."
— Folk wisdom"Swallows skim low, rain will follow."
— Old Yorkshire weather lore"A swallow in the barn brings luck to the farm."
— Rural proverb"The swallow is a letter from the heavens, flown in on warm winds."
— Inspired poetic line"They come with the spring and leave with the light—messengers of the seasons."
— Anonymous naturalist
A bit of trivia for you: these feathered friends are primarily insectivores. They feast on a diet of flies, beetles, and moths while they’re on the move. They can migrate up to 6,000 miles, mind you, and live an average of about 4 years—though some can stick around a bit longer, up to 8 years even!
In terms of conservation, luckily, they’re not on the endangered list. Still, loss of habitat can take its toll on their numbers. The Barn Swallow, with its exquisite beauty and lively antics, truly captivates all who are lucky enough to witness it. They stand as a symbol of renewal and resilience in nature, reminding us just how splendid our world can be!
