
That evening as we were watching the martins coming and going a pair of common swifts wheeled past us several times, coming very close and making their high pitched call, before disappearing over the rooftops. I like to think they had come to say thank you Elena.

You will notice that the nest on the right is actually designed for swallows, having an open topped cup. Well there has been something of a struggle going on lately between the martins trying to modify it to their liking, and a renegade sparrow who seems to resent their presence.
The pesky Sparrow chases the Martin away then proceeds to break off the newly built wall and stuff the empty nest full of dead grass! We are constantly pulling out the cloying grass but then the battle starts all over again. A clear case of sabotage out of resentment as the sparrow makes no attempt to use the nest, it just doesn´t want anyone else to have the pleasure. |
