Life, the universe and ............ swallows.
No intense topic but just a ramble about some of lifes intricacies. This morning I was walking my dog and it suddenly dawned on me that the swallows were gone. All of them.... for 6 months there were hundreds of them buzzing around the trees and my head... and now there was a stillness
The birds had declared autumn started and upped there wings and headed back to Europe.
Forever Autumn - Justin Hayward
So that set me thinking about my youth. In early April the sky would darken ... the sun blocked by tens of thousands of European swallows heading home. The process repeated in September in the opposite direction. Their numbers have dwindled but the migrations continue, decades later.
British swallows spend their winter in South Africa - they travel through western France, across the Pyrenees, down eastern Spain into Morocco and across the Sahara. Some birds follow the west coast of Africa avoiding the Sahara. Other European swallows travel further east and down the Nile Valley. Swallows put on little weight before migrating.
They migrate by day at low altitudes and find food on the way. Despite accumulating some fat reserves before crossing large areas such as the Sahara Desert, they are vulnerable to starvation during these crossings. Migration is a hazardous time and many birds die from starvation, exhaustion and in storms.
Migrating swallows cover 200 miles a day, mainly during daylight, at speeds of 17-22 miles per hour. The maximum flight speed is 35 mph.
Swallows arrive in the UK in April and May, returning to their wintering grounds in September and October
Image Credit
The hero of this story... the humble Barn Swallow
As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the tune. I remember it most from the sound track to War of the Worlds.
I really like the news about this bird, I love the word immigration that exist in this group of birds that you tell this. We can take a lesson from this bird story, Nereka immigrated against all the challenges during the journey for a destination that they believe and is suitable for their next residence, From there we can learn that the importance of immigration in this life for change, In towards a change we need the struggle and challenge is quite heavy, There we need the level of patience and hard work high. This is very useful @themagus
Thank you for giving the post so much of your attention and considered thought. Your engagement is much appreciated!!
Ta very much. So so so wonderful post I have seen @themagus
Beautiful bird
Good post my friend, really show the beauty of fall, success always friend
very interesting my friend ,,, I looked at the picture of the bird while hearing a very popular song in 70s. I feel the comfort ,,, this incredible combination ,,, stories, bird photos and songs that are nice to hear. Giving spirit to live life and about how to survive.
You got a 71.43% upvote from @redlambo courtesy of @themagus! Make sure to use tag #redlambo to be considered for the curation post!
Migration, and the hardiness it requires, should be a lesson to us all in persistence and perseverance.
Nice to hear that song again too. A bit of a change from the ladies of the 80s that I was listening too, and going off on tangents on, just a few minutes ago. Gorgeous in a different way.