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P. 37
Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper June 2016 Page 37
Christine Schoene Maccabee Barn Swallow
they can fly such long
distances with the
greatest of ease. In
On The Wild Side fact, once here, it is
estimated they can fly the
equivalent of 600 miles a
day in quest of food for
their young, according to
The Swallows Are Back the Audubon Field Guide
to North American Birds.
So how is that possible,
you ask?
Birds, the free tenants of land, air, and ocean, In my research, I have
their forms all symmetry, their motions grace...” learned, as many of you
likely already know, that birds are closed them up for the night in their
— James Montgomery, British Poet very light (as light as a feather in unheated coup. I even worried a bit,
fact) due to the fact that their bones but they weathered the cold winter
I often wonder how many nestlings, and themselves. It takes are hollow and filled with air. Also, beautifully, as they are fully and
other people feel a thrill when the a lot of energy zooming around all according to a book on Natural thickly feathered.
swallows return to our area in day. It is a true joy to watch them History by Bertha Parker, connected I am in total admiration of birds
early May. In late April, I began to fly far out over the fields, gathering with a bird’s lungs are tiny air sacs in general, and sometimes I wish I
watch for the swallows with high what they can at lightning speed, scattered throughout its body. These were as free as they are, unfettered
expectation. Every year, the swallows and then bringing the food back to air sacs act like tiny hot-air balloons. by coats and boots and layers
are drawn back to my home like a their eager nestlings. Usually there Therefore, a typical swallow weighs of clothing, and independent of
magnet, much to my amazement and are four young ones, and once these far less than a mouse, lizard, or automobile expenses. I envy them
joy. Their nest of mud and grasses, fledglings leave the nest, the mother frog of the same size. A bird’s for their ability to fly and feed
lined with soft feathers, is perched in and father occasionally settle down streamlined body is another help in themselves without growing their
a corner of the eaves of my A-frame to raising four more. flying. Humans have tried to mimic own food or going into a grocery
house. Due to the strength of this Birds, as we all know, are these qualities, the closest coming to store.
nest, and how well it is “glued” amazing creatures. We humans are gliders of various types, and hot-air However, as Popeye so wisely
to the wood, it has lasted through fascinated with both their flight balloons. I will not say anything said, “I yam what I yam, and tha’s
many a fierce storm. It is the second and their songs, not to forget their about all the other larger, costly, all what I yam,” and there is no
nest the swallows created there in amazingly artistic colorations. Many heavy planes, especially of war, escaping that fact! I do rather like
more than twenty years, the first one a poet has written eloquently about which have completely digressed having two strong legs, and arms
falling down just a few years ago. them and artists such as Audubon from Nature’s perfect plan. I can reach to the sky with, giving
That particular spring, upon their have painted detailed representations So, back to feathers. Feathers praise for all the wonders of life. I
return, they built another strong nest of them (more than 1,000 to be also serve the purpose of protecting am also thrilled to have my swallows
in the very same place, and I expect nearly exact). Songs like “The Little birds from rain and cold. They back here for another season. I will
it to last just as long as the other Red Lark,” an Irish ballad, portray shed rain because they are a little miss them when they gather to go
one. their amazing flights and songs, oily and the intricate parts of the south in August, and I can usually
The first sign of the return of my and airplanes were invented as we feathers are cleverly put together in tell when the time is coming by
feathered tenants is their excited grounded-humans decided we, too, lovely, serviceable patterns. Feathers all their excitement as they zoom
chirping, and my day is immediately had to fly. This idea may or may also keep the bird’s body warm, around my house with their happy,
happier upon hearing them. They not have been a good one. After all, trapping the heat; think of your chirping fledgelings, full grown by
sound like they are having a lively birds are following their natural down sleeping bag. This past winter, then, and fully independent. Sigh.
conversation, which I guess they inclinations, whereas humans do I remember telling my chickens to I wish I could fly free as a bird,
are, and my loneliness is displaced not, and we are definitely polluting huddle close and keep warm, as I and be light as a feather!
by their cheerful company. Since our planet with all of our unnatural
arriving here several days ago, the contraptions, are we not?
mated pair has been zooming all day So, perhaps that is why I am so Christine is a Master Naturalist in the State of Maryland and welcomes any
through the skies, eating whatever mesmerized by birds, particularly questions or stories of your own about gardening for food or for wildlife. She
they can find. Every spring and the swallows. They are so small, can be reached at [email protected]
summer, they keep my atmosphere seemingly so vulnerable, and yet
completely free of mosquitoes, so
no Zika virus here. However, due
to all the rain and cool weather this
spring, the flying bug population is
not so great yet. Hopefully the birds
had plenty of food while traveling
north after wintering somewhere in
Mexico or some country in South
America. Some swallows winter as
far away as Argentina!
I wish I knew my swallows’ entire
story, but at least I do know part of
their story here in northern Frederick
County. I have seen mothers, and
fathers, sitting on their nest until
the babies hatch. Thereafter, the
wonderful partnership of the parents
continues, taking turns feeding the
Christine Schoene Maccabee Barn Swallow
they can fly such long
distances with the
greatest of ease. In
On The Wild Side fact, once here, it is
estimated they can fly the
equivalent of 600 miles a
day in quest of food for
their young, according to
The Swallows Are Back the Audubon Field Guide
to North American Birds.
So how is that possible,
you ask?
Birds, the free tenants of land, air, and ocean, In my research, I have
their forms all symmetry, their motions grace...” learned, as many of you
likely already know, that birds are closed them up for the night in their
— James Montgomery, British Poet very light (as light as a feather in unheated coup. I even worried a bit,
fact) due to the fact that their bones but they weathered the cold winter
I often wonder how many nestlings, and themselves. It takes are hollow and filled with air. Also, beautifully, as they are fully and
other people feel a thrill when the a lot of energy zooming around all according to a book on Natural thickly feathered.
swallows return to our area in day. It is a true joy to watch them History by Bertha Parker, connected I am in total admiration of birds
early May. In late April, I began to fly far out over the fields, gathering with a bird’s lungs are tiny air sacs in general, and sometimes I wish I
watch for the swallows with high what they can at lightning speed, scattered throughout its body. These were as free as they are, unfettered
expectation. Every year, the swallows and then bringing the food back to air sacs act like tiny hot-air balloons. by coats and boots and layers
are drawn back to my home like a their eager nestlings. Usually there Therefore, a typical swallow weighs of clothing, and independent of
magnet, much to my amazement and are four young ones, and once these far less than a mouse, lizard, or automobile expenses. I envy them
joy. Their nest of mud and grasses, fledglings leave the nest, the mother frog of the same size. A bird’s for their ability to fly and feed
lined with soft feathers, is perched in and father occasionally settle down streamlined body is another help in themselves without growing their
a corner of the eaves of my A-frame to raising four more. flying. Humans have tried to mimic own food or going into a grocery
house. Due to the strength of this Birds, as we all know, are these qualities, the closest coming to store.
nest, and how well it is “glued” amazing creatures. We humans are gliders of various types, and hot-air However, as Popeye so wisely
to the wood, it has lasted through fascinated with both their flight balloons. I will not say anything said, “I yam what I yam, and tha’s
many a fierce storm. It is the second and their songs, not to forget their about all the other larger, costly, all what I yam,” and there is no
nest the swallows created there in amazingly artistic colorations. Many heavy planes, especially of war, escaping that fact! I do rather like
more than twenty years, the first one a poet has written eloquently about which have completely digressed having two strong legs, and arms
falling down just a few years ago. them and artists such as Audubon from Nature’s perfect plan. I can reach to the sky with, giving
That particular spring, upon their have painted detailed representations So, back to feathers. Feathers praise for all the wonders of life. I
return, they built another strong nest of them (more than 1,000 to be also serve the purpose of protecting am also thrilled to have my swallows
in the very same place, and I expect nearly exact). Songs like “The Little birds from rain and cold. They back here for another season. I will
it to last just as long as the other Red Lark,” an Irish ballad, portray shed rain because they are a little miss them when they gather to go
one. their amazing flights and songs, oily and the intricate parts of the south in August, and I can usually
The first sign of the return of my and airplanes were invented as we feathers are cleverly put together in tell when the time is coming by
feathered tenants is their excited grounded-humans decided we, too, lovely, serviceable patterns. Feathers all their excitement as they zoom
chirping, and my day is immediately had to fly. This idea may or may also keep the bird’s body warm, around my house with their happy,
happier upon hearing them. They not have been a good one. After all, trapping the heat; think of your chirping fledgelings, full grown by
sound like they are having a lively birds are following their natural down sleeping bag. This past winter, then, and fully independent. Sigh.
conversation, which I guess they inclinations, whereas humans do I remember telling my chickens to I wish I could fly free as a bird,
are, and my loneliness is displaced not, and we are definitely polluting huddle close and keep warm, as I and be light as a feather!
by their cheerful company. Since our planet with all of our unnatural
arriving here several days ago, the contraptions, are we not?
mated pair has been zooming all day So, perhaps that is why I am so Christine is a Master Naturalist in the State of Maryland and welcomes any
through the skies, eating whatever mesmerized by birds, particularly questions or stories of your own about gardening for food or for wildlife. She
they can find. Every spring and the swallows. They are so small, can be reached at [email protected]
summer, they keep my atmosphere seemingly so vulnerable, and yet
completely free of mosquitoes, so
no Zika virus here. However, due
to all the rain and cool weather this
spring, the flying bug population is
not so great yet. Hopefully the birds
had plenty of food while traveling
north after wintering somewhere in
Mexico or some country in South
America. Some swallows winter as
far away as Argentina!
I wish I knew my swallows’ entire
story, but at least I do know part of
their story here in northern Frederick
County. I have seen mothers, and
fathers, sitting on their nest until
the babies hatch. Thereafter, the
wonderful partnership of the parents
continues, taking turns feeding the
