Swallows also flock to San Clemente
The swallows have returned, but not to the mission in San Juan Capistrano. This time, they're in San Clemente at the Lowe's store at 907 Avenida Pico.
The birds have built their nests – made of dirt and mud – under the roof of the hardware store after as much as a 7,500-mile journey from South America. The arrival of the swallows at the mission has been a traditional marker of the start of spring going back at least 100 years, according to the mission's Web site, www.missionsjc.com, which has a whole section devoted to the lore of the swallows.
Because the birds are migratory, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, according to Nancy Kenyon of the local Sea and Sage Chapter of the Audubon Society. That means Lowe's and other businesses can't hose down the nests or otherwise disturb the nesting birds.
"You can tell if they're disturbed," Kenyon said, "if they don't fly back to the nest because you're too close."
The swallows are colony nesters, Kenyon said, meaning they like to stick together. What they are really looking for is dirt and water – i.e., mud – to build their nests, and food to eat.
"If little insects are flying around, they'll eat them," she said.
There are no guarantees on how long the swallows will stay.
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