.::: Pacific Wildlife Project :::. Meet the Swallows

The Swallows

Several years ago, the historic swallows of the San Juan Capistrano Mission in Southern California had decreased in number due to a multitude of factors, not the least of which was earthquake retrofitting on the Mission itself. Pacific Wildlife Project's director Linda Evans was charged with setting up a progam to bring swallows back to the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

Determining that the increase of food supply was central to the return of the swallows, Linda recommended planting flowers and berries, introducing beneficial insects (i.e. ladybugs and lacewings) and stopping the spraying of pesticides in the immediate area.

To give the swallows a place to nest, she provided premade nesting site, as swallows tend to reuse old nests. The artist also created replica nests from clay that had the same porosity, thermal quality and texture as those the swallows were used to.

The project was a resonding success! The number of swallows has slowly been increasing and the mission is set to provide many happy returns for years to come!

Now that you've contracted swallow fever, check out our scintillating swallow facts!