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One of the first signs of the rainy season is the arrival of Cliff Swallows.

It's January and we've had our first big rains of the rainy season here in Southern California. The flowers are beginning to burst forth in color and crispness. Trees are budding...

And I am watching for that first crocus of the new year...a personal ritual of many decades. But I'm not holding my breath because the crocus season here seems to be different than the East Coast...and the crocus just isn't as popular here as in the eastern half of the US.

However, I've discovered a different annual ritual of spring. Along with the winter rains come the natural flooding of the wetlands near. And with the flooding comes mud. And with the mud comes the spring antics of the Cliff Swallows.

This bird is hallowed as a harbinger of spring at San Juan Capistrano, CA, and lambasted as agricultural pest across most of the state, but last year I observed the industrious swallows building their nests by diving for mud in the Ballona Wetlands...and they took up residence in my heart.

If you would like to learn more about these industrious birds...and their cousins, the Barn Swallow, try this web page...

"Both sexes of the Cliff Swallow construct the nest, proceeding slowly to allow the mud to dry and harden. Depending on mud supply and weather, nest construction takes 1 to 2 weeks. Mud is collected at ponds, puddles, ditches, and other sites up to 1/2 mile away, with many birds using the same mud source. A typical nest contains 1,000 to 1,400 mud pellets, each representing one trip to and from the nest. Cliff swallows sometimes build two or three nests per season; not all nests are used, however..."

...and on and on, you will be fascinated at the antics and habits of these graceful swallows that are nature's bug collectors. Great prevention of mosquitos and beetles!

I hope you have a spring ritual that makes you grin as you anticipate the season of life bursting forth in its endless array of wonder. If not, maybe this is the year to observe carefully the little details of natural miracles that arise around you...and to choose one that can take up residence in your heart!

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