What's That Bird

IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE YOU SEEN SOME BIRDS FLYING LOW TO THE GROUND AROUND DUSK ON GENTRY STREET OR NEAR THE MUSEUM? THESE LITTLE BIRDS HAVE NESTS HERE IN OLD TOWN SPRING AND THIS YEAR WE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM. THEY ARE ABOUT 7" LONG, HAVE A LONG FORKED TAIL;THE UPPERPARTS ARE BLUE-BLACK WITH A BUFFY BREAST AND A THROAT OF REDDISH BROWN. THIS IS THE "BARN SWALLOW" AND I HAVE SEEN NESTS UNDER THE EAVES AT CREEKSIDE AND ALSO UNDER THE LITTLE BRIDGE BY THE MUSEUM. 
 
 BARN SWALLOWS EAT INSECTS. THEY FEED IN PAIRS WHILE EGG-LAYING AND IN LOOSE FLOCKS AT OTHER TIMES. THEY FEED IN FLIGHT AND CAN SKIM OVER WATER TO PICK UP FLOATING INSECTS. THEY NEST SINGLY OR IN COLONIES. THEIR NEST IS A DEEP BOWL OF MUD PELLETS AND GRASS LINED WITH FEATHERS AND IS PLACED ON A BEAM OR SOME PROJECTION IN A BARN, UNDER A BRIDGE, OR IN A CULVERT. BOTH THE MALE AND FEMALE BUILD THE NEST USUALLY IN THE MORNING AND CAN MAKE UP TO 1,000 TRIPS TO COLLECT MUD. THEY LAY 2 TO 7 EGGS AND THE EGGS ARE WHITE WITH REDDISH-BROWN SPECKLES. 
 
 WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THESE LITTLE BIRDS HERE IN OLD TOWN SPRING AND I HOPE THEY CHOOSE TO NEST NEAR US AGAIN NEXT YEAR . LOOK UP IN THE BEAMS ON THE PORCHES AROUND HERE NEXT SPRING AND WELCOME OUR BARN SWALLOWS.