Welcome Swallows

The Welcome Swallow By Kevin L Fairbrother Every year just before the onset of Spring The Welcome Swallow visits our farm We have endured the harshness of Winter And the Swallow a welcome site for sure For the Swallow hails warming weather Brings cheer to us for we know Winter is past For this tiny bird has flown from the Gulf country of Oz To the temperate climate of southern Australia Never landing on the ground, resting on poles and wires These masters of flight gather their food on the wing Visits our shores to renovate their home under the eves For they are life- long partners these Welcome Swallows The birds court and mate within our sight Such a natural wonderful display they put on Then it’s time to repair the old nest with mud And feather the bottom where she will lay her eggs The female sits on the eggs in the mud built nest Whilst the male feeds and tends her every need For days and weeks, she keeps the eggs warm Until the day when the hatching occurs The hatching comes then the Swallows hard work begins From early dawn till the sun sets in the west They both spend their time catching food for the young All the food is caught whilst they are on the wing With warming days there are lots of insects to collect As the Swallows fly in and out to the young in the nest Their wide open mouths and the calls of feed me They gulp down all the food that mom and dad bring With three hungry mouths to feed the parents never stop It’s nonstop gathering of insects and bugs Such amazing aerobatics the Swallows put on a show As we gaze in awe at their flying skills The parents return to the nest through-out the day No time to rest must keep up the supply of food For the noisy young demand to be fed and pampered For they are building their strength and exercising their wings Then the day comes it’s is time to leave the nest Encouraged by mom and dad they take the plunge Out of the nest, under the verandah they fly to the power lines Then look around amazed then take off following their parents They stay around the house for a couple of months For we love to see this family of five Welcome Swallows Then one day in late February they disappeared We were sad to see these Welcome Swallows go But we know that when next winter is over And the sun once again is warming We will be happy and overjoyed To once again have the company of the Welcome Swallows