Flint Hills of Kansas 7/11/22 (updated)
Following sparse visitation during the spring migration period our local bird population leveled out at loyal fulltime residents. Even nearly all hawks vacated the entire area, which is something I have never seen happen in the 22 years I have lived here. But, one thing that remained the same is the arrival in spring of our Barn Swallows. The repetitive nature of their adoption of our place as their own and the resulting interaction with them is a big part of our mutual lifestyles.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
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Our place here in the Flint Hills of Kansas is ½ mile long and ¼ mile wide. It is less than quarter mile deep at the north end, more than a quarter mile deep at the south end. It is shaped kind of like Idaho but with a fatter panhandle thanks to the route of the river. Our border on the east is a timber banked river. The boundary along the west is a hilltop township road. We manage our place as a nature refuge. Our lifestyle is relatively simple and strives to be in harmony with nature. Everything is structured around our Traditional background.
I have offered diaries in the past featuring Swallows (see www.dailykos.com/...) so another one should come as no surprise. What is a surprise is the extent to which Swallows have become something of an obsession for me. Besides being a close observer I am even involved in their nesting and baby raising process. Swallows have provided me the huge challenge of photographing them in flight. A nice thing about this pursuit is that while success is definitely not a constant result the Swallows at Appy Trails provide an abundance of opportunities. After all, we live together!
Swallows in flight are one of the most difficult subjects to capture with a camera. As a beginning photographer I found the challenge veritably impossible. Being the persistent type, and getting help from Bucket members, among others, I improved and began to find more success at getting the elusive Swallow BIF photos I covet. Having said that, there is one particular Swallow flying maneuver that I had never even attempted. Swallow behavior includes the practice of diving from various heights to briefly skim the surface of a body of water, then dipping their open beak into the water to get a drink on their way back to the safety of altitude and open space. They can accomplish that feat at very high rates of speed. The entire process may only last a second. But sometimes they will make more than one pass, which greatly enhances the chance to track them with a camera. I set getting a good photo of that beak dipping instant in time as a top priority goal for this year. Because is so miss them when they are gone I want to be able to see Swallow behavioral traits, including that rather spectacular ‘shining moment’, at any time I choose throughout the year.
My most recent Swallow diary focused primarily on nesting and raising the young to achieve flight. Todays diary will display pictorial sequences of Swallow teaching behavior followed by my pursuit of catching one snatching it’s shining moment. We will begin with a sequence showing some extended training for young fliers.
Sequence #1: Training the Young'uns.
Our Swallows often gather periodically throughout the day on the power line extending from road to house. It passes by the upper barn, our pond, and the main barn on the way and figures prominently in the behavior of Swallows at Appy Trails. This year the huge Cliff Swallow population who nest under the river bridge a half mile upstream has taken to spending their daytime hours here. That can complicates issues for the Barnies, but they have held their own despite being grossly outnumbered.
Swallows do the bulk of their hunting at various altitudes in open sky, but also hunt on the ground. Here is Papa on the ground just outside the barn fixated on capturing a hefty insect.
It isn’t often you see them in ground hunting mode but is very entertaining to behold. Crazy Bird does more of this that any of the other Swallows. I think she has discovered the horse’s winter hay feeding sites are a great source for fly larva, which might explain the little white bits and pieces decorating her beak when she is feeding babies.
However, most hunting is airborne, so that is when I spring into BIF action. Barn Swallows are amazing flyers, maybe the best there is. They are not only very fast, they are also extremely quick and unbelievably agile at any speed.
Adult Swallows take fledgling flight lessons to the next level by showing the youngsters how the sky is their breadbasket. Sometimes such instructional moments can appear to be confrontational.
Looks can be deceiving. What you see happening is an adult showing a youngster how to hunt in the air, periodically providing proof by example.
Turns out the aerial “confrontations” are most often an in flight transfer of food to the learning youngsters. It is something along the lines of bribing the youngster to tag along and copycat what it’s parent does. It works! The young become self reliant within 2-3 weeks following their initial flight.
That concludes Sequence #1 on Swallow behavioral training traits.
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This line break reminds me of going to a movie in the old days when they had to change the reel. Que the clips of buttery popcorn and other stuff to make you take off for the concession stand. LOL. I’ll just assume you brought your own goodies to this show and ‘over the break’ I’ll show you some of my favorite Swallow BIFs before we dive into the second sequence.
Sometimes they come straight at you and fly right over your head.
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OK, I have the new reel queued up and ready to go. Let’s head into…
Sequence #2: Quest for the Shining Moment
It is time to get serious about trying to capture a Swallow’s Shining Moment. I must tell you unless you are really, really, good AND very lucky you can expect to suffer through a lot of failure at this game. I know I sure do. But if you learn from mistakes and spend a lot of time trying you can eventually get that prize pic you’re after. At least I hope that proves true! I have spent hours and hours day after day sitting still hiding in the shade, or even out in the open under a sizzling Sun, waiting for chances to get the one pic I am after. But it’s great fun trying to be ready when the chance arrives and I will definitely be doing it again, hoping for the ultimate bar setter. So here we go, always believing this is the day we’ll get it. The biggest advantage in our favor is that Appy Trails pond delivers an abundance of opportunities. Since it has become so hot Swallows are making far more frequent visits to the pond for water. It is wise to remind yourself to be ready at all times because, as the saying goes, it usually happens when you least expect it. Remember, the entire process of the bird diving in, skimming the surface, dipping it’s beak in the water, and returning to altitude may only last for one second, often less. The instant they dip their beak in the water creates the Shining Moment that we want to click on. BE READY!
We start over, and over, and over, again. Sometimes we get closer to what we’re after, sometimes it’s a total whiff.
While I’m waiting for another chance this pretty little pic came floating along through the horizontally growing Willows along the western bank of the pond.
I lost focus due to the bird’s incoming speed. Another whiff, so we’re back to waiting.
Don’t bail on me now, we’re gonna get this if we just keep trying.
WOOHOO! WE GOT IT! Hey, where’s the confetti?
Tough crowd.
Oh wait, did I try to celebrate too soon? The thing about bar setters is you now have to try to get a better one.
UPDATE: The bar is indisputably reset!
It isn’t perfect. It isn’t tack sharp and it isn’t full fan. But, it is perfectly timed, has great color, provides a fine reflection, is a Barn Swallow, and has brilliantly beautiful water works. That’s good enough for me!
C’mon, you knew I wouldn’t fail to finish with a flourish, didn’t you?
UPDATE X2
Ring those chimes! Sometimes, if you’re living right, the Swallow Gods smile on you in a big way.
I hope you enjoyed getting a little bit more Swallow behavior out of this virtual exercise. Save that confetti because I’ll keep working to get more, along with trying to upgrade my bar for that Shining Moment. Because...it is a Swallow Obsession.
Until next time, pass the popcorn, please.