Stories without voice / Is there spring without swallows?

They have traveled almost 10 thousand kilometers. They have crossed over the inhospitable Sahara. They have flown over seas without the opportunity to rest, eat or drink a few drops of water. They have weathered storms and winds. They have lost companions during the journey. They have taken a trip of a lifetime, even though they repeat it every year for their entire lives. They have gone through all these trials for one reason only: To find a welcoming corner where they can reproduce. And this corner is often sought in our homes. It’s the swallows. These birds we have learned to call the harbingers of spring. These birds that are due to human responsibility every year are becoming less and less, with the risk that at some point in the future we will wonder if there can be spring without them. If there can be spring without swallows.

Every year less and less

In recent years, scientists have been sounding the alarm, as the number of the little harbingers of spring, the swallows, begins to decline noticeably. This beloved and much-sung bird that has been associated with Greek nature is today threatened with extinction as the population of swallows is constantly decreasing, year by year, and there are even places where their well-known chirping can no longer be heard. According to relevant research, the population of swallows in many European countries has suffered a reduction of up to 40%. Main causes of the alarming decline of the swallow population are the increasing destruction of the natural environment, the abuse of insecticides that deprives the swallows of their only food, which is flying insects, and of course the urban environment that has become prohibitive for for the swallows to live there and build their nests, on the outer walls of buildings, under roofs and overhangs. There are not a few cases of people who consider swallows’ nests and swallows to be a nuisance in their homes, a burden that stains and unsightly their balconies and terraces, and for this reason they destroy and tear them down even though this is prohibited and punished by law. In addition, the cementing of cities deprives swallows of the raw material for building their nest, mud.

Swallows, the natural and ecological insecticide

Before starting their long journey from Africa to Europe, swallows have made sure they have enough food by storing in their tiny bodies a large dose of energy that will help them cope with the demands of the difficult and tiring flight. Because if they get tired and there is no island near them to rest, they will fall into the sea and drown. Flying insects, which are the main food of swallows, are another factor that can connect these birds to humans as they act as a natural insecticide – just think that a single swallow can consume up to 850 flies and mosquitoes a day. day. In short, if we were lucky enough to host a swallow’s nest in our family environment, the couple together with their young could kill more than 2,000 flies and mosquitoes a day, which means that a more efficient and ecological insecticide could not be found. we have at our disposal. On the contrary, the use of chemical insecticides deprives the swallows of the food necessary for their survival, recklessly breaking an important cycle of nature and life.

Let’s make them feel welcome

Most species of swallows make their nests out of clay. They collect small pieces of mud from somewhere nearby and carry them to where they want to build their nest. 700-1,500 pellets are needed for each nest. Building can take from 3 to 16 days, except that in modern cities the swallows find it difficult to find the necessary spot. As every year, this year the Hellenic Ornithological Society invites us to participate in “Swallows 2024” to welcome the swallows that arrive from Africa to their own nest. With basic materials the enthusiasm of children and clay, which replaces the soil that swallows find it difficult to find in the city, young and old create their own swallow nests. The nests can be placed at school or at home, offering the swallows ready homes and us the opportunity to “cohabitate” with them and observe them up close. As every year, the “Swallows 2024” will take place from March 8 to 31, in various regions across the country, with the support of Ornithology and in collaboration with local bodies, associations and educational groups.