OF BIRDS AND FLIES.


      It's getting close to that time of year, when the summer migration
   of birds will soon begin. The first to normally appear are the swallows.
   I thought l could see some flying high in the sky but they turned out to
   be martins. The swallows have over the last 20 years made their
   appearance on or close to feb: 18th.

     A couple of years ago my nephew and his girlfriend arrrived at my house
   with a very young swallow chick. It had fallen from its nest onto the street,
   up in Albanchez. Would l look after it ? "No" says l, "it will only die".
   Disappointed by my pronouncement they asked, "what shall we feed it?",
    "Flies" l said.

      At first it was difficult because it wouldn't open its beak. We had to gently
   prize it open, pop a freshly swatted fly in and then a drop of water,using an
   old syringe. "How often do we feed it?", they asked. "All the time", l replied.
   "Will you do it?", "No", says l.

      They wanted to travel down to Cadiz. They took the fledgling with them.
   It was wrapped in cotton wool, and they were armed with a fly swat. On the
   first night it managed to get in bed with them, snuggling up to their warm
   necks.

     They did make it to Cadiz and arrived back a couple of days later. The little
   bird was feeding fast and furiously on a diet of flies, beetles, bugs and ants,
   followed by a few drops of water. It was snatching the offered insects from
   their fingers as quickly as they could catch them. I had to swallow my words.

     We all went back up to Albanchez and as we stopped the car, the youngster
   started calling to the swallows, who were sweeping around the buildings.
   Within 3 more days it learnt how to fly, by launching itself off the upstairs patio.
   Soon it took to the wing, returning every half hour or so to visit. Then, within
   days it was off.

     Our summer visiters arrive mid feb: and leave about October after
   hopefully bringing up a few broods of young. These swallows (Hirando
   rustica) have a blue sheen on the back and wings, with a forked tail. The
   throat is dull chestnut with a dark blue band beneath. The forehead is also
   dark chestnut. They have a high metallic tweet tweet twittering song. They
   construct an open saucer-shaped nest, on beams in buildings. These nests
   are made of mud.

     It is said that these birds bring much luck to the houses they choose to nest
   in. I   know of one person who was knocking the nests down because as she
   said, " these filthy black birds are making a mess!