A View From My Porch This Evening

[Horse with no Name]

Last year I shared with people that I had a barn swallow nesting on my front porch. I was going to remove the nest but after researching about the little fellas, I decided not to mess with them. Here is their nest this year:

Sooo, now these birds are going to count on more generosity from me and decided to expand...this is their new nest in progress:

As if birds on my porch weren't beautiful enough...it was a beautiful day today. This is my view of my across-the-street neighbors yard at dusk

But just when I was loving going outside and looking at the beauty...this ruined it all:

[Cleita]

1. Swallows eat mosquitos. Keep them. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

5. I have grown pretty fond of my swallows

One actually flew into the house a couple of weeks ago.
I trapped her in the bathroom and she let me pick her up and carry her outside.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. the last photo a wake up call

sadly, it might take high gas prices to finally wake up all America to Bush's folly, and cause us to finally institute a valid conservation/alternative fuel program. I just hope it isn't too late.

[JuniperLea]

3. You are very fortunate on many counts...

Even the gas... I paid $3.06 last night...


:(

[Horse with no Name]

7. I think I am too

Many don't have a porch to stand on--and I am extremely grateful that I do.

[bahrbearian]

4. I have them in my barn,, some times the nest get too large and they

break free, thats sad when the babies are in there,, so I add some support.

[Horse with no Name]

6. What I find fascinating about them is

that they share nests with other swallow families.
They raise their families then leave and another swallow family will come and occupy the nest until they raise their babies.
I think that people could learn a lot from birds.:)

[Jazz2006]

8. That is so cool. I have mourning doves that have returned every year...

for the past four years to nest and raise new babies in the eavestrough of my garage.

I am so hoping that they come back again this year!

The mama bird pretty much stays put while the papa bird forages for food (of course, I leave plenty about but he seems to like variety - hee hee) and then once the baby birds appear, they stick around for a while longer and I don't see them again until the following year.

I know it sounds sappy, but I've grown quite fond of them.

:toast: