Post #1825717

2026-04-23 01:19 UTC

@wilpercy Swallows used to return each spring to nest in the awnings of a couple of local shops, but new tenants kept removing the nests and the swallows disappeared for a number of years. However, recently heard the chattering of a couple of swallows in flight and saw them briefly alighting in local market gardens. Probably gathering mud for nest-building. Hoping people will let them be and let nature heal a little. #Tokyo #swallows

Replies (1)

@wilpercy@beige.party 2026-04-23 04:01

@minorusaba A few years ago there was a couple nesting in a sheltered porch over the doorway to one of the church/kindergartens we teach at. Staff put up upside down umbrellas to catch the droppings. I hope they come back this year too, but I’ve yet to see any. This morning, walking to work I watched a lone swallow on the wing stoop to sip water from freshly irrigated rice paddy. It was so effortlessly elegant: a beak breaks the surface momentarily tracing a pencil line on the surface. Then off whirling and looping. I want to try to photograph it. The picture above is actually a still from a video I took of the gathering birds yesterday. I might have to try the same trick as they are so swift and unpredictable. For anyone following this thread did you know that this weekend is ‘The City Nature Challenge (CNC) (is) an annual four-day event where people around the world use iNaturalist to document the plants, animals, fungi, and other wildlife living in their cities and neighborhoods. 2026 marks the 11th year of the CNC!’ https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/citynaturechallenge#participate I signed up and will try to contribute something over the next few days. #Nature #Crowdsourcing

Open ##1825718