Last Year — Success!

It’s hard to tell which are smarter — the swallows or the chickens.  We’ve had many opportunities to observe and consider both this spring.  I vascillate from one to the other but, it’s a lot like comparing little kids in the classroom.  Some are good with some things; some with another.

Take nest-building.  Chickens don’t even get a rating on that one.  The best they can do is scoot their butts around in a pile of straw or shavings and make a little indentation to lay their eggs.  It’s like us saying the indentation on a pillow is constructing the bedroom…

Trial and Error-Error-Error

Barn swallows, on the other hand, get right down to it and, within a day or two, they have their building project done and ready for occupancy.  Most years, anyway.  Although… this year, the couple trying to build in a “usual” place — atop the window ledge on our south porch — has had two nest collapses… so far.  They must not be the same couple who’ve staked out that area the last few years.  Maybe they are the offspring.  They seem new at things.

I tried to tell them that the mud they are using to hold the grasses together is way too wet.  They weren’t having any of it.  This last time, one of them — maybe mom — had actually taken up residence before the mud was dry.  When next I looked, no swallow and the nest was splatted all over porch decking.  Again!

Construction Disaster

Chickens, on the other hand, do seem to listen.  And, as I wrote a few days back, they have a pretty good vocabulary and can understand a lot of what I say.  (Which may not be saying much for my own vocabulary.)  Plus, even if they aren’t getting it, they try.  They cock there heads and give me a beady-eyed look which leads me to believe that they are taking in every word.  Swallows won’t slow down enough to give even the illusion of listening.

As soon as I appear on the scene, they go ballistic, chirping and flitting hither and thither.  Plainly, not interested in  tips for success or other suggestions — like how about moving your nest to a wider support area — like that eave over there?

Cliff Swallows at the Church

Or, why don’t you go talk to your cliff swallow cousins at the church?  They’ve made eight nests just on that east-facing eave, alone!  And without any straw or grass material, either.  Just plain mud.  1,000 trips it took for each nest!  They’ve been done for days, their eggs are laid, and I think there may even be some hatchlings in residence.

Did they listen?  Of course not.  Will they try building a third time?  Probably.  I’ll give them points for instinct and persistence but, when it comes to listening and reasoning… chicken people win!  And I’m not a bit prejudiced!