Barn Swallows - Barn Swallow Trails and Tribulation

Trials and Tribulations of the Barn Swallows in Wales, UK

By Peter John

I found this little picture of a swallow waiting to be let Barn Swallow waits by the window

out by closed window, in my workshop barn.

Lucky I found this one from the barn in my other den.

Been reading your daily blog, and hope the swallows stay with you for a while yet as the weather here is very poor, and sad to say the farm across the road from me has closed down for milking cattle. That means no cows in the field behind my cottage this year where they always feed off flies surrounding the cows. Over the years when the weather is bad, the cows close at hand are a life line for the swallows in my barn taking short flights to catch insects etc feeding growing babies. Now they will have to fly quite some distants where the next farm has cows grazing.

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This little female ( 2009 ) came to my barn very A Barn Swallow lost and eggs

early in march of that year. She quickly laid eggs and I took special interest with her as she and her mate were the only swallows in the barn before others arived in April. Viewing the monitor one day noticed she hadn't been out to feed all day. Still no sign of movement following day, So I climed a ladder to check on her. Sadly she had died on the eggs. Reluctantly removed her and the eggs as they were stone cold. See photo. Don't know what happened to her mate, but anther pair of swallows nested in same nest a week or so after. All was well with these new ones and had ten babies during 2009.
Put little one in a strong tin with the eggs and buried her in the garden.

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This is Wales when you are sweltering down south. Peters winter garden

People ask why do swallows migrate to Africa.

I inform those people that swallows are insect eaters, and they would be lucky in my garden-see attachment- to find anything in the shape of flies etc having a day out for an afternoon walk or a breath of fresh air in this weather.

Visit Peter's website for more stories on the Barn Swallows a lovely collection by a truely dedicated Barn Swallow friend.