Swallow of the Air

The swallow looks and sounds almost like any other bird. The only thing that sets these apart are their rather distinctive looking nests. If you came upon one, you'd almost think it was a rather large hornet's nest. You know, not every bee builds nests that all look just alike. Some of them prefer to bore into the wood while others secrete a sort of paper-like substance from which to build. The swallow on the other hand uses only mud. To do this, it must begin building a nest just after the rain either on the ground, on a ledge, or way up on high. The issue with building the nest up on high though is the matter of carrying the mud to the higher elevation. You'd almost think the swallow picks it up in its beak and carries it with care only to be stamped upon and fashioned into a nest-like shape later.

The thing is though, the mud keeps its' young surprisingly cool safe from the heat of the day. To build a nest any lower though is to invite predators such as cats and other small animals. Building lower nests though means far less effort and distance required for the swallow to follow. Thus, the lower nests are much easier if not more dangerous. If there is no rain, the swallow must then go to a nearby water source and carry it there in its' beak. Upon arrival, it then proceeds to make and shape its' own mud. For such a small animal though, that represents an awful lot of work. Once the nest has been built and fashioned into the proper shape, the sparrow is then ready for the conditions of whatever comes next.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Psalm 84:3