Yes, this really is a blog post about birds. But first, I'll show you the speed boats we went to see at the Poker Run on the Ottawa River on Saturday.
I'm really not a fan of loud speed boats flying by. But when the got to the Long Sault Bridge between Hawkesbury, Ont. and Grenville, Que., I noticed something under the bridge.
Under the lip of the bridge were tons of swallows. Cliff Swallows
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Cliff swallows live in colonies and make jug-like nests out of mud.
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I was lucky enough to be there as Mom was feeding one of her babies.
Is that cool or what?
Their little condos are works of art. One book I have says that the nests are built by building up tiny pellets made of mud. A typical nest takes 900-1200 pellets. Now that's devotion -- and great architecture too!
As I was pointing upwards with the camera, this poor misbegotten gull was hanging around me with a look of "What am I, chopped liver?" I had to take his photo too!
That's great that the swallows are using the bridge as a "cliff". It is amazing how they make their nests.
ReplyDeleteI really like the fact that you start by talking about those ugly, awful speedboats (I am not a fan either) and segues into observations of beautiful birds and their homes. Cliff swallows really are remarkable birds. Great pictures!
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