The Swallows Are Back, 2008

Yeah, I know I haven't finished the sea cruise yet.

Our swallows came back this past week -- but unfortunately for them, they didn't find their nest, as it fell down in December after several years' worthy service. So for a few nights they sat atop the window molding to sleep, but showed no indication of working to rebuild another nest.

So Valerie worked some magic with the old nest -- which we had kept -- a plastic cup, and some screws and braces, and remounted the nest in more or less the same location, along with some cut branches for decor or camouflage or just extra perching.

And the swallows weirded out and flew away for a couple of days.

And then they came back. Sat on the nest. Poked at it, assessed it, and must have decided it was indeed suitable, because they've settled in. We expect a clutch of hatchlings in two or three weeks, they are occasionally dive-bombing the cats, and the cats are ignoring them. So, just like in years past.

Silly birds -- but charming.