Skywatch, as the barn swallows return

I love barn swallows – they are weapons of mass destruction in my war on bugs. They returned this week to the three nests they built last year.



My colony of barn swallows is architecturally challenged – they built their nests on the house instead of the barn. But that's close enough. Who am I to complain when I've got a volunteer army of exterminators working for me?





They've been very busy re-lining their nests with horse hair, which Hank and Lyle are more than happy to contribute as they finish shedding their winter coats.

And I'm supplying the mud for their nest repairs.



From now until the monsoon season starts, I will let the stock tank overflow every time I fill it. The swallows get their mud, the horses and burros get a little moisture on their feet, and my farrier doesn't need a jackhammer to trim their hooves.

And let's not forget the biggest beneficiary of all that mud...





To see who else is looking up at the sky this week, check out the links on the Skywatch home page.