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This story is about a family of California Delta Barn Swallows, Hirundo rustica Erythrogaster
Chatter Hatches… Near The Fast Water
Cold tulle fog rises from the cooler slough water as the early morning sun warms the Delta air. Poppa Barn Swallow perches on a dock railing to sing a morning song ending with a trill. With breathtaking speed, swooping and turning, he flies around the boats and docks to catch a breakfast of live mosquitoes. Momma Barn Swallow has kept her seven tiny eggs warm in the nest all night. She laid the first egg 18 days ago. The well built nest is made of mud, vegetation and other materials, like mammal hair. It is lined with soft, warm down-feathers and Cottonwood tree pollen.
After eating many mosquitoes, Poppa catches another to bring to Momma Barn Swallow. He returns to mind their nest. She happily eats the mosquito Poppa brought. They both tidy up the nest and preen to add more down feathers. Poppa checks each egg, adjusting his wing feathers to cover them, and settles into the nest. Momma stretches her legs and wings, and flies off calling “sweet-weeet, sweet-weeet, sweet-weeet". She swoops to catch mosquitoes for breakfast. Swooping over the slough water, she scoops a drink of water and perches to clean and preen her feathers.
Poppa sits on the eggs in the nest, one egg stirs. It is ready to hatch! The chick eventually chips a hole in the shell with its beak. Poppa calls “sweet-weeet”. Momma Barn Swallow flies straight back to the nest. In a while the hatchling emerges from its shell. Momma and Poppa quickly remove shell pieces from the nest and preen the hatchling. In a few hours the natal down-feathers of the hatchling are dry. The gape on his beak is a bright yellow.
Tiny peeps are the first sounds the hatchling makes. The hatchling peeps louder and more, chirping! This hatchling begins to chatter all the time! So his name is Chatter.
Poppa brings a mosquito for Chatter, who eagerly gulps his first breakfast. With a contented chirp, he settles back for a nap in the warm, cozy nest. The late afternoon turns to evening and a dinner of mosquitoes for the breeding pair of Barn Swallows. Momma keeps the nest warm fro the night. Poppa Barn Swallow perches near the nest, watching the bright sunset colors change on the Delta. The Barn Swallow family quiets down and settles in for the night.
Barn Swallow; Hirundo rustica erythrogaster
Barn Swallow breeding pair "Taking a Break" from nest building.
This illustration may be printed by the reader to color. There are color plates and photos on the Delta Birds Coloring Book web page.
Questions;
What do Barn Swallows primarily eat?
What is the Barn Swallow scientific name?
What is the Barn Swallow nest made of?
How is the nest lined?
How many eggs were in the nest?
How long does it take for a Barn Swallow egg to hatch?
What is a newly hatched bird called?
What part of the newly hatched birds beak has what color on it?
How can people co-habit the docks with the wild birds?
Facts and Links;
Did you know it is illegal, by federal regulation, to tamper with or destroy the nests of native birds? www.dfg.ca.gov or (888)DFG-CalTIP
If a bird is injured or ill what can you do to help?
Call Lindsay Wildlife Museum & Hospital (925)935-1978
For information about the West Nile Virus call
1-800-877-WNV-BIRD or go to the web site www.westnile.ca.gov
Bibliography; The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Sibley
Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1; Peter Pyle
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All artwork, text, titles and images belong to and are the property of the artist, Bethi Carver. No reproductions, copies or using in any internet or other media of any kind is allowed without the prior express written permission of the artist and owner of this website, Bethi Carver. Thank you very much. Copyright © 2009 Bethi J. Carver. All rights reserved.