Aerial Acrobats

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Tammie Rogers

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The Barn Swallow chicks, which have occupied several mud nests under the eaves of our house and buildings, are soaring. Yesterday, I sat waiting for the Indigo Buntings (future post) to arrive at a spot near the house where they tend to come for the tall grasses that grow there. I looked out over the field, which is lovely in bloom with red clover, and saw dozens of the swallows swooping back and forth across the meadow.

Had it been a couple of weeks ago, I would have assumed they were parent birds harvesting food for their growing babes. However, I believe many of these birds were the new fledglings trying out their incredible endowment of flight. At one point, there were ten young birds perched on a wire (Robert’s radio towers) near the garage. Then, in a heartbeat they took off together over the blanket of clover. What a sight it was to behold! They looked less motivated to feed than to experience the joy of flying.

Here is a quick 30 second video of the splendid sight.

Here are a few photos of the newly fledged chicks, and their parents. Top two pictures are adults. The rest are chicks.

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Here’s a photo of one of the nests which a pair of swallows decided to build on the light under our front porch – not exactly where I would have preferred, but they worked so hard on it, we had to accept their choice.

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← A plethora of Pollinators

INDIGO →