Every year we have 3 pairs of Barn Swallows that come back to nest. One pair always nests above our front door, where the other two pairs nest is still a mystery to us! But we do see them in the early morning and late evenings, catching their food on the fly! Yesterday Mom and Dad decided it was time to teach their babies to fly! I tried to get pictures of them, but Mom who was doing most of the teaching, was not cooperating! Mom and Dad both will fly along side the young as they are learning to fly, I think it is to teach them to catch their own dinner!
I did get one of Dad, he is slightly larger than Mom!
Here are two photos of the four babies in their nest above our front door!
As you can see we put up a small piece of wood 2 years ago to help them out, they rebuild their nest every year and some years it would just fall down. Either they or their children return every year without fail. Every fall they leave and go further south for the winter.
I love watching them as they fly along snagging their food in the air! The babies return to the nest every evening, until they are ready to be on their own! They also sit on the edge of the nest to poop, which I collect and add to my compost heap! I hope you enjoyed my little photo essay, because without these wonderful birds my summer would not be the same!
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Comments: 44
They always swooped down and "attacked" me on the farm, as a kid. I was terrified of them. ha ha
Maybe you were to close to their nest?! Thanks for stopping by Peter!
I blame the many many barn cats that probably were making them a nervous wreck. It was in the barnyard (far from their actual nests) where I'd get dive-bombed - ha ha -
On Saturday I watched as Mom and Dad swooped down at a roadrunner in my front yard! The roadrunner was out numbered two to one!
Came out pretty good, I hope everyone enjoys these lovely birds!
They sure are good to have around to eat bugs !!!
Yes they help keep our bug population down!
I love that! They are such beneficial birds.
Thanks Aunt Shanny, I love the fact that they help around here!
They are pretty birds in addition to being beneficial in the control of bugs.
They are beautiful, I love to watch them fly!
They are also supposed to be good luck -- that is probably because the control the bugs.
Good pictures. Thanks
I've never heard that they were good luck, I know I have less flying bugs because of them!
You got some really nice photos, it must be wonderful to go and see them whenever you like.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
I'm glad I joined your group Nana, thanks for stopping by!
Great birs to have around, they eat bugs by the bushel!
They do help out around here, we have all kinds of bugs!
Wonderful Photo Essay
Thanks Elaine, thought you would drop by!
Oh how cool is that? And aren't they pretty birds? Glad you were able to get photos of the chicks...And interesting to know that they come back each year to the same nesting site...I read an article yesterday on the internet about some nesting sights that are thousands of years old...FALCON NEST IN GREENLAND 2,500 YEARS OLD
Thanks for the link interesting info on Gyrfalcons, the Barn Swallows will repair their nest if it isn't too damaged, or rebuild if it falls down.
Oh my. Those little faces are totally cute!
I just love looking at the little ones, they are so curious! Thanks for stopping by!
I love to watch them fly and never begrudged their use of our storage building, despite the effect on my tractor seat.
I know John, I just toss it all in my compost heap!
Well, there's not that much! Although I have been known to gather wild cottontail droppings and add to the compost. My most recent batch with fresh green grass clippings and wood chips and shreds heated up in two days and probably could have been used in less than a week!
We have 10 acres of land so pretty much everything goes in my compost heap!
Ginger ,thanks for sharing the photos. Super shots and comments.
they are great birds to watch. Once I was mowing the lawn and they were following me, they were catching all the bugs that were flying out of the way of the mower, it kinda freaked me out! swooping down at my head.
POINTS NATION!
When we mow they follow us too, great bug catchers they are!
What an interesting essay, I enjoyed reading it!......PN
I am thinking way too literally today. I read your title "Our Barn Swallows", and my train of thought was, your barn swallows what?
LOL! I've been known to do that too! Thanks for stopping by to see what my barn swallowed!
I like to watch the birds, too. Caught my first one eating on the go recently. Wish they'd concentrate on flies and mosquitoes instead of the butterflies.
dropping by for Points Nation
Aww...that is cute, ginger! I had the same cardinals every winter for 4 years and knew it was "them" because the female would preen in front of a yard mirrow while hubby sceamed at her to "FLY! Cats in yard! Fly,FLY". It was a hoot to see...
I love pic such as these. Strange how the simple things of nature can be so enchanting.
Such beautiful birds! You have quite the wildlife habitat going on your property, that must be so wonderful for your family to view!!
Points Nation
what a lovely essay. i have never experienced something like that, i love watching birds fly, but have never really seen baby birds in their nest. you are so lucky to be able to witness something like this.
We also have a bird nest right outside our front door and it is crazy when they start to sing and fly.
Wonderful photo essay-great close-ups!
Beautiful photos and interesting comments - love the barn swallows, where I grew up it was considered good luck when they came back to nest each year.