What is the name of the city swallow in medieval literature, many know. The people called her a funnel. The city swallow is about the size of a sparrow. But its pure white rump and belly, black back with a bluish tint, tail with a nice neckline, legs covered with fluff and feathers are so attractive that people have always been very fond of this bird.
The city swallow flies quickly, deftly picking up insects that come across on the way. Despite her weak and expressionless voice, she is very sociable. He calls the chicks to him with short murmuring sounds like “chirr-chirr” or “trick-trick”. He loves not only bird neighbors, but also people. When a cute family of swallows watches you, sitting on the wall of your house, it becomes so warm in the soul, and quiet joy fills the heart.
Ever since people began to live in large settlements, the city swallow began to accompany them through life. Birds made nests under the roofs of houses, skillfully attaching them to sheer walls. This was regarded by the residents as a good sign from above. God-fearing people in the old days treated them as a talisman for home and family.
Urban swallow -it is a wonderful harbinger of rain and bad weather. True, today their number has decreased significantly. This is due to the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult for swallows to find food and the clay and fibers necessary for building nests. Within the cities there are practically no puddles from which they draw building materials. Today people are driving them off the eaves of their houses, taking care of the cleanliness of the facade.
How beautiful and elegant the city swallow is in flight, the photo here is very accurate. At first, she often, often flaps her wings, and then freezes and soars in the air for a long time, remaining motionless. Then the bird gracefully descends on a tree to rest or, having caught prey, tenaciously fastens its body to a sheer wall near the nest, where large-mouthed chicks are waiting for dinner.
The city swallow builds its nests outside the house. But her village relative knows how to accurately get into a small window in the roof of the building and arrange a house for herself right in the attic. In one summer season, the family breeds two or three generations of chicks. Her young offspring do not fly far from their parental shelter, but form friendly group settlements side by side. Each female lays in the nest from three to five eggs, white, but with small red dots. The first laying is done at the end of spring.
At present, when cities and towns have become unfriendly to city swallows, and due to the spraying of fields, gardens and even forests with pesticides, there is little food in them, this bird species is stillfound in abandoned quarries near water-filled waste quarries. In some Western European cities, groups of people are being created trying to protect such birds. To do this, on high masts, people install artificial nests and birdhouses for several families. Next to them, continuous fountains are organized, the bottom of which is stuffed with clay and woolen and vegetable fibers.
