The swallows are returning, we welcome them by building a nest (it's simple)

We could change the famous saying "A swallow does not make spring", which means not reaching hasty conclusions by dwelling only on appearances or on a fortuitous case, with "Swallow does spring": and yes, because it is in this season that swallows make their migration to arrive in our country after a journey of thousands of kilometers; and it is precisely here that they nest.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Usually the adults always return to their nests, and over the years these are gradually thicker due to the different layers that are superimposed during the "restructuring".

For the construction, earth, straw, dried grass and a particular material that acts as a glue, their saliva, are used; they begin to prepare this mash already on the ground. The nests have grooves on the outside: they are the points where they rest on holds that act as a support. To help these birds, we could put vines or sticks on a wall so that they act as a foothold.

While house martins build the nest under the eaves as the first flight of the chicks occurs "by fall" and therefore need a certain height (and for the same reason they do not nest if there are trees in front), the swallows nest near the man and in an area protected from rain (such as a canopy) to ensure that their nests of earth do not melt under the water.

But we can too help swallows during their nesting, by building artificial nests; this for the sole purpose not of attracting these splendid birds, but to replace the original nest in case it fell, broke or was removed to carry out a building renovation, which can still be carried out only in the period of non-nesting (therefore from end of September to February-March). In fact, the law prohibits the destruction / removal of bird nests, the taking of eggs or the capture of chicks.

How to build artificial nests

But how can we build a nest useful for swallows? It's very simple!

You need a rectangular wooden tablet about 20 cm x 15 cm large on which holes are made with the drill, placed to form a half moon; nails must then be inserted into these, inclined towards the center, thus creating the skeleton of the structure necessary to maintain the construction material.

The latter can be prepared using clay and dried grass, but since clay is a bit difficult to find I can also use earth and cement (in the proportion of 2/3 of earth and 1/3 of cement; in the same proportions I can use earth and vinyl glue).

Everything must be mixed well, after which this material is placed on the previously constructed nail skeleton, both externally and internally; drying occurs naturally.

So let's welcome the swallows.

Ps: Some people are not very happy to see a nest built under the roof of the house because of the droppings produced by the birds and scattered on the ground: a suggestion is to place a wooden board underneath; the latter can also act as a support in case the nests fall (the swallows at the first nesting are still inexperienced).