A Gulp of Swallows?

[tmcg]

All of a sudden, we have a population of swallows. I'm not sure what the collective noun is for swallows, but we counted twenty-three today, hanging out on a phone line--not a huge population, but remarkable given that I hadn't seen a single one here in the few years I've been paying attention to birds. I'm not even certain they're swallows, since I can't find them in the Audubon bird book, but they fit the general description. Whatever they are, I love them. They're arrows in flight, and fearless, and they chatter delightfully. I hope they eat insects, because we've been plagued by more mosquitoes than usual this year. I'm glad they're here, and I hope they stay.

Comments

[readwrite.livejournal.com]

Not sure, but sitting on a telephone line doesn't sound much like swallows. One key to recognizing swallows is their forked tail (thus, "swallowtail"). they do eat insects, but they tend to be very active, gliding gracefully back and forth. Around here, they would be the sort, I think, that makes nests out of mud on walls. Starlings, perhaps?

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

They do have the forked tail, and mostly they're very active; I first noticed them a week or two ago when I saw several swooping around the neighborhood. Definitely not starlings, which I'm familiar with. I was wondering about the mud nests, too. I'll keep an eye out for those, and try checking a few other bird books hoping for a recognizable match. Thanks!

[fionagh.livejournal.com]

If they have a forked tail and sit on New York telephone wires they are most certainly Devil-Pygmy Swallows. ^_^

I'm just messin' wif ya.

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

LOL!

It wouldn't surprise me if somehow my garden had attracted Devil-Pygmy Swallows. It would seem completely in keeping with the place. :)

[thenetwork.livejournal.com]

Aah, you don't even have a seven-foot Cthulhu on your lawn. :)

[thenetwork.livejournal.com]

Swallows do too sit on wires, when they gather prior to moving on. And swallows they are. *g*

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

And they seem to have moved on! Suddenly, no swallows! I'm bummed. I was really enjoying them.

And they're missing a good meal. It's been dragonfly weather. Or maybe they're following the dragonflies?

[thenetwork.livejournal.com]

We saw the dragonflies. (I thought they were hummingbirds, heh.) Imagine having your food supply travel with you!

Collective noun?

[(Anonymous)]

Delving into the depths of my collegiate wildlife biology memories, I seem to recall it being a gulp of swallows.

Re: Collective noun?

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

Wow! If it's not, it should be. What a great term.