Where have all the swallows gone?

One day there were just no more swallows on the front porch, swooping in and out with those beautiful scissor tails.

No more live birds perching on the metal bird bell hook. No more swallow talk background soundtrack to my morning yoga asana practice.

Though I was careful not to use the front porch too much, I think they hatched some baby swallows.

I found signs of two, maybe three eggs having hatched. Tiny, fragile, speckled half shells, smaller than a US dime in diameter, appeared on the porch floor one day.

Sidebar 1: When looking for coins to give an idea of size, I found magnificent horned creatures on both the South African 2 Rand and US 25 cent coins. Of course the US quarters vary hugely.

Sidebar 2: In these cashless, plastic days (…of miracles and wonder - don’t cry…), am I the last person left in the whole world who loves and obsesses over coins, those beautiful, portable pocket milagros capable maybe (hopefully)of healing and protecting from all the brokenness?

I didn’t actually see the fledglings depart the nest though there was much fluttering back and forth, which I thought might be flying lessons.

There was also some clinging to the wall and looking up, down, all around. Could it be those were Next Gen 6th Avenue Shala swallows?

Again I didn’t want to intrude so pictures are through a dusty window, fuzzily.

Then it became clear that a new nest was under construction. I don’t know if the original pair were building again or a new couple had moved into the ‘hood. At first it seemed that they couldn’t agree on exact site and were building in at least three different places.

There appeared to be confusion as one or the other would swoop in, beak full of mud, and not be sure whether to go left or right. Some mud ended up splattered on windows or dropped on the floor.

Eventually more construction seemed to be happening on one of the sites. A nest shape began to form.

Then suddenly there was no action, no more swallows, no more coming and going.

I blame the feral black and white cat who took up residency on the front porch at around this time. I am thinking these lovely, useful, hardworking, family oriented, mosquito and gnat eating feathered migrants got the memo and decided to self deport. I hope they collected their $1000 for passing GO, and didn’t end up as cat’s dinner or in some version of a crocodile infested swap. I saw no sign of feathers which usually announce a kill. Typically it is the white winged doves, those dreamy, dopey Pete Seegers of the bird world, who fall prey to the feline hunter of the ‘hood.

I did try to tell Cat that, according to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is against federal and state law to interfere with migratory birds in any way, but especially while nesting.

“Who pays attention to laws and treaties anymore?” said Cat with a dismissive flick of the tail, before slinking away to do dastardly cat things in other parts of the jungle which is currently the Garden of Earthy Delights. Poop in the peas again, Cat, and I will personally feed you to crocodiles. In Africa.

Where have all the flowers gone: Pete Seeger (1955) with two additional verses added by Joe Hickerson (1960). More about the song here.

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the flowers gone?

Girls have picked them every one

When will they ever learn?

When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the young girls gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the young girls gone?

Taken husbands every one

When will they ever learn?

When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the young men gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the young men gone?

Gone for soldiers every one

When will they ever learn?

When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Gone to graveyards every one

When will they ever learn?

When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Covered with flowers every one

When will we ever learn?

When will we ever learn?