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A Violet-green Swallow rests on a a fencepost for a moment before heading back up to catch mosquitoes.
Photo by Jeff Young |
The Nature of Cedar Mill
The Swallows of Cedar Mill!
by Lauretta Young
One of our earliest spring migrants is the Violet-green Swallow who swoops over many of the ponds in our area. Tracking when they arrive every year has been a joy of mine over the years we have lived on wetlands. Seeing them for the first time is like a family reunion—it brings me such joy to think they made the long trip to come back to our area. It also means spring really has arrived!
These graceful birds winter in southern California and Mexico and even further south. One year when my son and I were on a river cruise in Belize we were sure we saw “our” Violet-green Swallows eating Belize insects! With its deep blue back and white underparts, this is one of our more recognizable Cedar Mill birds. They are responsible for eating many species of hatching insects, especially mosquitoes.
They will happily use nest boxes that homeowners set out, so are one of the more commonly-observed backyard birds as well in the summer months. They sometimes arrive in late February; my records show the earliest date in the past 15 years to be Feb 28. This year they arrived March 14. Typically a few birds arrive before the major flock appears. They leave in late August or September and I always miss their aerial displays as well as their soft twittery calls.
Swallows are a lovely addition. Look up and you can see them soaring over various Cedar Mill ponds. If you listen you also will hear them—go out before the traffic noise starts and enjoy a bit of blue loveliness!
Their arrival means that other summer birds are just around the corner. We can look forward to our second hummingbird species. The Anna’s hummingbird over-winters and I have recently seen them eating sap out of woodpecker holes to supplement the nectar from early-flowering spring plants. We will soon see the rufous hummingbird competing for the hummingbird feeder spaces with our resident Anna’s birds.
Lauretta Young is a Cedar Mill business owner of www.portlandbirdwatching.com who does customized bird tours in Cedar Mill and surrounding areas!
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