They are back…

The swallows and vultures are back.
I thought I saw a swallow at the same time they were chattering, bugging Fred to take the window off the shed so they can “get to it”, start the first of 2 or sometimes 3 broods.
Less than 2 minutes after the window came off, they went inside
to check out last year’s nests.
I waited outside with the camera and saw none this afternoon.
Fred snapped this one.
Welcome back.

Swallows return

The Swallows




swallow, monkton, vt


The Swallows have returned to our woodshed and other sheds out back and other places with hollows like tree centers or under big tree bark.
We are happy they have cleverly come back at the exact time that the mosquitoes and flies hatch. They are ravenous from the journey but looked pretty healthy and spry.
We have a pretty good brood this year.
They showed up Easter Sunday.
First one, a sentinel, I believe, sits and chatters on the line for Fred to take down the window that keeps the North wind out in the winter.
Then a couple more showed up, letting us know their priority is to move into their version of summer camp.
Fred got up on the ladder and took down the window.
Within a minute the first swallow went in.
That evening, we could hear quite a chatter as the birds
were tidying their nests.
Then I heard a different noise, then they all went quiet. I believe it was an older bird shushing the others.
We are grateful to them for helping with our insect control.
We saw a couple of bats last year max. I hope they can recover from their near extinction in this area. So swallows are welcome and we hope they come back for years to come.

More signs of spring

Forsythia: