When the Hirondelles come back to Capistrano

Under the eaves of the third stories of Barbara’s house regularly at each point where a tile juts out is a hirondelle’s* nest with two exceptions where nests have fallen to the ground. Each spring the birds raise their babies.

Babies are almost grown and their heads stick out as they call to their parents. Some are already taking their first flights. Meanwhile the parents seem to have gone into repair mode bringing bits of sting and gluing them to their old nest.

Although there is something charming about having a bird apartment house in a village to take Barbara back to nature, another aspect is less appealing. Two of the nests are directly above plant-filled windows that need to be cleaned of bird offerings.

Today when the plumber visited to restore cold water to her bathroom, I suggested he add miniature toilets into each nests. Miniature toilet paper rolls are available from doll house stores. Training might be difficult, he pointed out.

*Sparrow