Microseason: Swallows Return

SPRING

PURE + BRIGHT

SWALLOWS RETURN

4 - 8 April

When cherry blossoms fall, willow trees sway in the wind, and Spring rains begin, swallows ride the warm southern breeze back to Japan. After spending Winter in southern islands, swallows travel thousands of kilometers. Gliding effortlessly over rice paddies, their arrival marks the true start of farming season.

Swallows reside in Japan as Spring birds, and when Autumn arrives, they fly South to warmer regions. Since swallows time their migration based on daylight hours rather than weather or temperature, they return at the same time each year. In the traditional Japanese calendar, we have microseason “Swallows Return” and microseason “Swallows Depart”. The fact that both the arrival and departure of swallows is marked in the calendar, highlights their significance in Japan.

Swallows travel solo across thousands of kilometers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia, flying low over the ocean and avoiding predators along the way. During migration, they average a speed of 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph), an impressive speed for a bird. Over the sea, they navigate using the sun, and once they reach land, they recognize familiar mountains and rivers to find their way home. Upon arrival, they begin repairing their nests immediately.

While not all swallows return to the same nest, they generally come back to the same area. Swallows prefer nesting in places with human activity. Unlike other seasonal birds that abandon their nest each year, swallow nests should be left in place for reuse. We often install boards under nests to prevent them from falling while the swallows are away. Thanks to people who have long protected these nests, swallows have come to trust humans, making them a true symbol of harmonious coexistence.

If their old nest is intact, they can repair it in just a day or two, and quickly start laying eggs. However, if the nest is gone or occupied by another pair, the male will wait nearby for his lifelong mate, and together they build a new nest, which takes about seven to ten days to complete. Mud and dry grass is mixed with saliva to build remarkably strong bowl-shaped nests under the eaves of homes and shops. For city swallows, finding mud and grass is becoming difficult due to urban development.

We believe that a house where swallows build their nest is a house that is blessed with happiness, and a flourishing business. Swallows play an important ecological role eating insects, sometimes catching hundreds a day to feed their chicks. Farmers of yesteryear would also placed poles in rice fields for swallows to perch so their droppings would fertilize crops.

Swallows raise their young in Japan, feeding them insects daily. And in approximately 20 days, chicks leave the nest and take their first flight. Initially, young swallows struggle, but by Summer, they fly with great energy, darting across the fields.

Swallows have long been a familiar presence in Japan. However, if they sense danger or experience environmental changes, swallows may abandon their nests. They serve as a valuable reflection of human’s responsible participation in the ecosystem.

Photo credit: Nature&Science