It’s rare to get a good solid look at a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), considering they zip through the air at great speed most of the time in pursuit of flying insects, but a pair were gathering mud recently for their nest.
Barn Swallows build mud pellet cups; I watched one in process last year in Prospect Park.
These birds nest under Pier One at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Flying masons. The mud is gooey with plant matter, which must help with structural integrity. Note the long trailing tail feathers of the male above,
Barn Swallows Wallowing
2 responses to “Barn Swallows Wallowing”
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[…] are some gathering mud like the masons they […]
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[…] there’s a nest nearby. A couple of years ago, I watched another pair gathering mud for a nest under a pier at Brooklyn Bridge Park. We have five species of swallows breeding in NYC. Tree Swallows can be seen nesting in the boxes […]
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