WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

March 29, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 13[2]

BARN SCENES

As late spring approached during my childhood in Wisconsin, so too did the barn swallows. Incredibly acrobatic creatures, they dive-bombed anything and anyone that ventured near their nests. As the spring kittens arrived, the ensuing battle between the mother cats and the swallows was a sight to see. Although kittens often sang in the background, their sounds were quickly drowned out by the screams of those of us unable to avoid the erratic diving birds.

Some literature suggests that barn swallows rarely make physical contact during their dive-bombing antics, but that was not our experience. Anyone who failed to wear a hat risked a swift strike across their scalp. Dogs were also vulnerable to their attacks, although they usually escaped harm as they dodged beneath the tractors or other nearby equipment.

Despite our frustration with barn swallows during nesting season, they were essential for bug control. With an appetite for spiders, flies, and other insects, their mud nests frequently had remnants of their prey. Females lay between three to six eggs. With only a two-week incubation period, both males and females tend to the hatchlings, sometimes relying on other birds for feedings. Within two weeks after birth, most barn swallows can navigate on their own.

Although common in rural America, their habitats include Europe and Asia, with nearly 200 million worldwide. Their backs are typically blue, orange, or red, and they have a white or cream belly. Small and slender, they have a distinctive long-forked tail.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Determine if there are swallows in your area or nearby areas. If you can locate different types, observe how they differ in color, nesting habits, and food sources.

---

[1] A weekly blog/newsletter by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, 8 Types of Swallow Birds Your Should Know, www.birdsandblooms.com, May 17, 2024; Barn Swallows, White Sands National Park, NM, Aug. 21, 2020, www.nps.gov; Barn Swallow Bird Guide, Audubon Society, https://www.audubon.org; J. Clark Sawyer and Joyce L. Makovics, Barn Swallows, Bearport Books, Aug. 2014; Adele Barger Wilson, Bonding with the Barn Swallows, Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, Dec. 2013.