Tree Swallows, photo by Joe Povenz
Some days I feel that this photo sums up the modern world. Try to listen every so often … you might learn something.
The All About Birds page on Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) says they are:
Handsome aerialists with deep-blue iridescent backs and clean white fronts, Tree Swallows are a familiar sight in summer fields and wetlands across northern North America. They chase after flying insects with acrobatic twists and turns, their steely blue-green feathers flashing in the sunlight. Tree Swallows nest in tree cavities; they also readily take up residence in nest boxes. This habit has allowed scientists to study their breeding biology in detail, and makes them a great addition to many a homeowner’s yard or field.
…Tree Swallows feed on small, aerial insects that they catch in their mouths during acrobatic flight. After breeding, Tree Swallows gather in large flocks to molt and migrate. In the nonbreeding season, they form huge communal roosts.
Read on for more, and if you have a little time, this article on Tree swallow farmer David Winkler is worth a read.
View Joe’s photo bigger and see more in his Songbirds slideshow.
More birds on Michigan in Pictures.
Michigan in Pictures 
This post led me to more links I have read through that almost any other.
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