The Swallows Left

The Swallows Left Monkton last week,

and I did not really notice the exact date.

Fred wrote it in on the calendar
like he does every year.

They had a really great year,
Chubby and healthy, spry, active and they had a couple of good broods.

I wonder where they go, how far down south,
south of the equator?

Then wonder, do they know the hurricane predictions,
without radar?
Where to duck for cover on the trip?
How to pace the trip with the food supply?
How to keep the hawks from eating the little ones?
Do they ever get lost?

 

No matter what, it is quieter without the swallows chattering on the line

I still attribute their population increase to the decline in bats,
and yet I have no science to back this.

Swallows are on their way

Most all of our resident Swallows

left last Wednesday or I believe official date should be

Thursday August 25, 2011 (a few stragglers remained one more day).

But either way, they left 3-4days before Irene hit.

They are headed for South America.

I used to think Florida, but Fred did some research.

We hope they did OK with the storm and found some shelter.

They were the healthiest swallows we have seen.

Plump and good broods. My theory is that with

the sparse bat population, the swallows have more food.

Anyway,

I had intended on writing about the swallows leaving

before Irene hit.

So this is my post,

simple as it may be,

it is a tribute to the swallows, who brave long journeys,

suffering adverse conditions

and then they will fly back and keep our backyard bugs under control.

wish them a safe journey...mary