Purple Martin Gifts - Swallow Gifts

The Swallows are recognizable by their slender, streamlined bodies, which enables them to devour insects in flight. They are familiar birds throughout the world, often nesting in close association with people. They are known to many as harbingers of spring and as symbols of good luck. As a family Swallows are easy to identify, but the family includes many closely related and similar species.

The swallow that returns to San Juan Capistrano Mission each March is the Cliff Swallow. They gather mud to build their globular homes in colonies under bridge or the eaves of buildings (or on cliff-faces out in the wilderness). They stuff as much mud as possible into their beaks and carry it substantial distances. Swallows are hard to photograph in flight, so most swallow pictures are of perched birds.

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