The barn swallows are getting bigger. One week ago they were fuzz-balls and now they are showing color and markings. The parents continue to feed their hungry brood. The babies no longer hide when they see me, probably because they are too big. They watch me curiously and wait patiently for food from their parents.
Nesting: The male and female work to build their nests out of mud and grass. They will first build a small shelf to sit on, then build up the sides of the nest. If the next is built against a wall, the nest will have a half-cup shape. When reusing a nest, barns swallows will clean out old feathers and add new mud to the rim. A nest heavily infested with parasites will not be reused.
Migration: The barn swallows are migratory and they will fly to warmer parts, probably somewhere in South America around the end of September. This is a breeding area for them and many will come back in the spring.
Update 7/25/2013 Two of the babies have started to fly. The fly for short little romps and then return to the nest or a ledge to rest. The other two babies are watching with interest, but have not left the nest yet.
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