Barn Swallows are among the most social and obvious
birds to be seen in Block Island's July air. These
pirouetting acrobats, with their long pointed wings
and "swallowtails", can be seen swooping and gliding
over newly mown fields, dipping to the surface of
a pond for a drink of water, and performing curlicues
in the air, all in the pursuit of insects.
Barn Swallows can also be easily seen not in motion.
With the increased presence of man-made barns and
outbuildings, Barn Swallows have shifted their preference
for nesting sites from naturally occurring cliffs
and overhangs, to eaves and rafters. Barn Swallows
do not seem to mind their association with humans;
their nests - an amazing, unsupported, mud urn that
surpasses the work of the best human stucco craftsman
- can be easily approached.
As July passes on, it will not be uncommon to
see whole family groups of young birds lined up
on utility wires giving their new wings a rest,
and pleading for one more delivered meal from
a parent or other adult Barn Swallow. There is
evidence that non-breeding, year-old Barn Swallows
will assist with the feeding and raising of a
younger sibling generation.
Barn Swallows:
- are one of four swallow species that commonly occur on Block Island
- nest throughout North America
- nest singly or in colonies
- often raise 2 broods of 3 to 6 young a year
- winter in southern United States, central and South America as far as Argentina
and Chile
Barn Swallows are of great value as insect eaters, and are mesmerizing to
watch. They are found all around the Island, but
most especially around fields where kindly residents
purposefully button open a barn door for them starting
in early April.
There is much to be said about Barn Swallows, but
little is as comprehensively and as eloquently written
as Forbush's description in Birds of Massachusetts
and Other New England States (1927). The following
brief excerpt may tempt the reader to seek out the
volume:
| "HAUNTS AND HABITS. No bird
in North America is better known or more
truly the friend and companion of man than
the swift and graceful Barn Swallow. It
nests within his buildings and with a flight
that seems the very "poetry of motion" it
follows the cattle afield or swoops about
the house dog as he rushes through the tall
grass, and gathers up the flying insects
disturbed by his clumsy progress. When the
mowing machine takes the field, there is
a continual rush of flashing wings over
the rattling cutter-bar just where the grass
is trembling to its fall. The Barn Swallow
delights to follow everybody and everything
that stirs up flying insects - even the
rush and roar of the modern juggernaut,
the motor car, has no terrors for it." |
|
Connecting People and Nature