LT COL NOEL ELLIS
12/VII/2025
“Wire Tailed Swallows” have become my favourites. There was a time when I had never seen or heard about this bird. Then one day I saw a huge flock sitting on a high-tension wire across the river nearby. I caught about a hundred in one frame. They were scanning the river for insects.
While exploring, I stepped onto the river bank slush. It was a tough walk through the sludge. I almost lost one shoe that day. The effort paid off. I saw a few of them sitting on the far bank eating something.
On the next visit they posed for me. I wished they took me to their nest and that is what happened. I spotted mud sticking inside a huge cement pipe. Birds were collecting dirt from the bank to stick it inside the pipe which housed numerous swallow nests. Some stood guard, while the others constructed.
The year changed and the route to the river was blocked as stray cattle were becoming a menace. It was disappointing but when you make friends, they come and say hello to you. To our surprise they chose the common lawn right infront of our house to collect building material for their nest.
They seemed to be enjoying a bath in the sprinkler watering the lawn. They were collecting wet mud for their nests. The concoction was sticking to their beaks which was revealed when I enlarged the photos.
Our connection continued. Our encounters became frequent when I saw them sitting on the roof in the opposite lane. I found out the ‘why’ of it? They had built a nest in one of the arches of that house. It was sun proof, waterproof and even predatory bird proof. The sighting of the nest was a tactical marvel. A revelation for me.
As time passed by and they got used to human presence and seemed less scared, they felt safer where humans dwelled instead of the wild.
Soon, I saw them zip-zooming at eye level from our roof. One of them even came and sat in our window sill. That was an honour to have them up close as my arms could stretch. They would come and sit in the shade, catch their breath before their next shikar trip.
As summer turned to the rainy season, these girls increased in numbers. One could spot about half a dozen of them hunting around. The flock had grown was a positive sign. One could mistake them with small ‘bats’ which fly around commonly.
As usual, one could make out who the baby was because it sat on the windowsill and begged for food constantly. Her wires on its tail were underdeveloped and much shorter, a clear give away.
Today was the luckiest day for me. A new behaviour of the Swallows caught my attention.
One of them sat on a wooden pole across the lane. The lady must be on the look out for dinner. She would jump off to catch an insect and return, while the male decided to express his love towards her.
She squealed and almost bit him and shooed him away. How hard he tried to balance on top of her, she did not condescend to his demands and told him to leave. Before Mr Swallow returned, Ms Swallow flew away. Poor Mr Swallow, swallowed the bitter pill for a headache that Ms Swallow had.
I waited a while but then the sun was almost on its way home. Ms Aircraft hummed in the distance which got caught in my lens. I saw Mr Helicopter following her, like the swallow couple. They were different species and could not mate I suppose. It was time to pen my thoughts.
My intention was just to capture the birds in their natural habitat and definitely did not anticipate the swallow’s love making would happen? What else is in store? I wonder!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/fREUyrnb5NU
JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS
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