Barn Swallow

This picture was taken at Point Pelee, Ontario on May 7th, 2006. These little guys are good friends of humans as they eat nothing but insects which of course includes mosquitoes. They are excellent flyers and can easily change direction at full speed. There nests are made of mud and straw and they usually like to build their nests about 5 inches below the ceiling in a building. Placing shelves at that height in a building where they have access may attract them. They are communal in nature and like to nest in colonies. If a predator such as a cat comes near, the entire colony will attack the cat in an effort to drive it away.