Ryan: Many months ago in late spring I was sitting having a coffee with a friend in the local park. I’m not sure what we talking about, nor did it matter as the coffee was an excuse to enjoy the late evening sunshine. Whatever it was we had said, he interrupted to point to the swallows performing their effortless aerobatics and said it would rain the next day.
In much of Europe there is a story that suggests when swallows fly low it will rain the next day. There might be some truth to this folklore because the swallow’s principle prey, flies, are very sensitive to changes in air pressure. I’m not sure if it did rain, but it was pleasurable way to spend the afternoon, watching these creatures which are perfectly adapted to flight.
It is alleged that the bird can travel in excess of 10 000km in month and effortlessly turn tight corners in pursuit of insects. While on the wing they do more then feed. The bird also mates as well as build nests. The predominance of large flat faced apartment blocks in central Europe has probably been beneficial for the swallow because most buildings have their mud nests affixed to the outside walls and in spring the noisy pleas of their young are quite common.