Swallows in Flight & (in SLO MO) Squabbling--NARRATED

All of the squabbles are in slo-mo. You'll love the choreography as swallows dance on air.

[@robwasnj]

So I was trying to identify these incredibly fast agile birds I often see over water or near it and came across your video. When you said "makes other birds look like pedestrians" that summed it up. What an awesome video, very enjoyable with your narration.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Gives me a glow to hear it, Rob. Thank you. You might also like two other of my swallow movies: Barn Swallows (kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSkpKV_mLt4Z8k); Cliff Swallows (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGS0eIl8iL2hqJo).

[@dham1194]

I was lost in the amazing way you explained their movements. Thanks❤😊❤

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed the narrative. I appreciate the comment. You might also like to watch a video I did last summer explaining why Barn Swallows are the most accomplished aerialists of all North American swallows.

[@bebuchwebmaster2046]

I grew up watching these little birds in amazement and even as a kid I made my observations, i.e. you never saw them in trees, you almost never saw them on the ground, and yes, their flying patterns were difficult to keep up with, even with my keen young eyes. my grandmother couldn't decide if they were good or a nuisance, equally proclaiming that it was a good sign that swallows would decide to build their nest on your porch and complaining about the mess they made as they were building the nest and them pooping on the porch once they settled there. Life went on and I lost touch with these amazing little birds, but now in my quieter years, I love watching them, and I only wish I knew how to encourage them to build a nest under my patio awning so I could watch them and hear them chirp and feel like a child again. Thank you for this video and I wish you all the best.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

What sweet memories you have about these swallows. I read your comment to my husband because I knew he'd enjoy it too. I wish I had words of wisdom to offer about how to coax them to build under your patio awning. All I can do, though, is recommend a couple of movies I made that are compilations of several short ones: Swallows, Part One: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmK8laGGmq57fdU and Part Two: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaWkemWHra-fbJI. The swallows that built under your grandmother's porch were probably Barn Swallows.

[@bebuchwebmaster2046]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME 🐤❤

[@sebathadah1559]

They are so FREAKING CUTE!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Agreed!

[@wordswritteninred7171]

We just moved to park City ky. Two days ago, 4 swallows began flying all around our house. They have been here everyday. One will fly through our porch, on a regular basis, several times a day! Even with us sitting on the porch. One accidentally flew inside! I gently caught it, and released it back outside. But when I opened my hand, to let it go, it sat there for several seconds, turning its head, looking at me. I am not sure why they began flying all around our house, but I am really enjoying their company!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I envy you. We don't have the habitat to attract swallows.

[@2Times22]

I dont know why..I love these birds so much..

[@scorpionx1503]

they build their nests on the walls of my house every year and i always look forward to them. but it's tricky because you have to clean after them lol.

[@2Times22]

@@scorpionx1503Its ok..It is worth it..Such nice visitors..!!

[@BeLoud13]

"They squabble over a foot of wire as though there weren't miles of it around." Haha! I love your narration! Thanks!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I do aim to make learning fun, Jill, and your comment tells me that in this film I succeeded. Thanks for commenting. Oh and by the way, I am posting a movie tomorrow about purple martins with lots of super slomo camera work to show you how beautiful their flight is.

[@Mattamillion-vk2pf]

People do the same thing though. Jerks parking right by your car when you two are the only ones in a gigantic empty parking lot.

[@discoveryman59]

One of my favorite birds thanks for this video.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

One of your favorites? That's understandable. Making a movie about them was a pleasure, so you're welcome.

[@chandlerh565]

Stfuuuuuuuuu idiot

[@rosemcclarren4373]

Absolutely delightful. Thanks Jo for making my evening so pleasant and putting a smile on my face. I loved watching the swallow dash and dance with the wind. Rose McClarren

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Rose. Oh, they do indeed dash and dance with the wind.

[@Gojiraking]

What a sweet video! You have a lovely voice for narration.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you. I never thought about my voice one way or the other until I started narrating movies, and people told me they liked its quality. One woman told me I could make a living doing narrations to put people to sleep! Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this sweet little movie. (And if you're not a subscriber, let me just say that I have lots more!)

[@taoprsn]

When I was in high school, I saw a swallow flying under my friend's fast moving bicycle. It was a show off😍😍nimble little guys

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

What, you mean the bird flew between the bike tires while the bike was in motion? I wouldn't have thought it possible. That must have been some tasty insect it was chasing!

[@taoprsn]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Yep, between the tires! They are incredible

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@taoprsn 😲

[@davidazinger5639]

Everything so well stated. Good choice of words along entire narration. Either a lot of preparation or you’re just a natural.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you so much, David. I do spend a lot of time on the scripts, and I'm a retired English teacher who has always loved writing.

[@krnlg]

Excellently produced video. It teaches so much in less than two minutes!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you. These swallows are well worth learning about.

[@CozybreadEndeavors]

they have such a distinct and exciting flight pattern when swooping and diving. i saw one for the first time flying close to the surface of the pond by me. your video helped me confirm ID of the bird-thank you!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Watching them fly is one of life‘s pure pleasures.

[@terrilynn27allen88]

Beautiful video.

[@50pinkies67]

Wonderful! You captured these little guys perfectly. Thanks you. Your professional narration always amazes me. And yes, they do "dance on air." Love them!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad to see that you're browsing on my channel, 50 Pinkies. Knowing that people are enjoying what I've been putting up keeps me motivated.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I wish I could really capture them, MysticBleu2. They're so incredibly fast and unpredictable. By the way, for some reason, Google informs me that you left a comment about putting up a box, which Tree Swallows immediately claimed. Oddly, though, I can't find the comment on this page so that I can read the whole thing. I hope you are having the joy of watching the babies be fed and fledge.

[@50pinkies67]

Jo Alwood I am having the time of my life. They did fledge last Friday with a 30+ escort of what I call their 'colony'. It was a delight!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh, I've never seen that. I must try to capture that next year. It sounds amazing.

[@50pinkies67]

Jo Alwood I hope you can. It's quite amazing.

[@nikhenibasena7052]

Wonderful! Thank you for such an awesome content. Love the narrator's clarity

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for such a compliment, Nikheni. Making these movies is a joy for me.

[@MJSPANKS]

All this time I thought these birds were swifts!!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

That's funny. Well hey, now that you've corrected that misconception, it's time to check out some of my other stuff about swallows. I love filming those graceful, supersonic birds. In fact, I'm posting a movie tomorrow about the eyes of swallows. Their eyes are more like a hawk's than a songbird's.

[@neowesterhaug6900]

Thank you, Jo. Pretty birdz

[@TheTupinchepadre]

Amazing video, you made me learn a lot of this beautifull bird, here, a big THANK YOU!!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

It's my pleasure, Red Blue Green. I enjoy hearing that my movie taught you and fascinated you. You'd probably also enjoy the two films I made this year about Tree Swallows. One about them nesting is in the Mini-Documentaries section and one about them driving away a Cowbird is in the Short Shots row.

[@MichelleMCTran]

I’ve seen baby swallows they are precious

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh, that they are, Avia. I've filmed them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSkpKV_mLt4Z8k

[@JainRain]

birds. are. perfect.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

couldn't. agree. more.

[@violina48]

Hello Jo, What a beautiful shots! Thanks.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I felt privileged, Annemieke, to get such close action shots of them. They are so beautiful. I'm glad to hear they delighted you.

[@Isamolle]

Beautiful! Am using this for inspiration for a painting I am making. Thank you for posting !

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You could do a painting with enough action to make John James Audubon perk up and notice. It's good to hear that the movie proved useful to you.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

And if you post the painting on the internet, shoot me a link.

[@hizzaddinno394]

Hey Jo, have you ever heard of Sasaki Kojiro? Kojiro was a legendary Japanese swordmaster who lived back in medieval times. Now the man had a legendary sword stroke which people claimed was unbelievably deadly. Kojiro called his technique Tsubame Gaeshi or Returning/Reverse Swallow (Strike). Legend is he was inspired by the movements of swallows in flight to create the sword technique. Sasaki died in a swordfight and he never passed on the technique. Sure, there are martial artists who tried to recreate it but I don't think anyone truly knows how the sword stroke worked because I think only someone like you, who loves watching swallows could figure out what the true Tsubame Gaeshi is because I know Sasaki Kojiro must also love watching swallows and the secret is with the swallows.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

That's an interesting story you told me, Hizzad. Thanks for passing it along. But I will add that I have no plans for adapting what I've seen swallows doing to sword fighting. 😉

[@Delcat42]

Thank you so much for this! I was looking for an ID on the nest in my eaves, and wasn't sure if the tail was right--video says positive, I just have snaps of it coming in for a landing--but it's also just a deeply pleasant video ❤️ Looking forward to watching more!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Boy, are you ever in luck with watching more. I just posted a movie showing Barn Swallows in flight. I'd call it going into the topic in a bit more depth, but I do try to keep it from feeling too educational. 😉

[@mcaddicts]

Bulky from carrying all those Coconuts to Mercia.

[@lajunecrockett2381]

Every year swallows come back to my house in the spring and stay late August during this time two sets of babies are hatched...thier nest is under the over hang of my garage door I have to keep my car pulled close to the front door because at night cats jump on the top of my car to try to get them they been coming back about 4 years now ...some how I feel they know I'm protecting them.....at late night when they're quaking I opened the front door and say get away from here.( to the cats ) when walking outside they don't bother me my neighbors said they're good luck

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

More power to you. ... And your swallows,.

[@aura9773]

Theyre soo cutee

[@vidaripollen]

So beautiful. I enjoyed.tank you madam.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're welcome. I felt privileged to see them squabbling and even be able to film them at it.

[@SohojBengaliRanna]

Very nice blog. thanks for share. You are most welcome to Sohoj Bengali Ranna (Easy Bengali Recipe)

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@earlrussell1026]

You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus the anointed is Lord! Repent and be baptized and believe the Gospel.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Richard, I prefer to keep religion and politics off my channel.

[@cyrax70]

SubhanAllah 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻

[@mrsaynothin]

so these are the moves Sasaki Kojiro was inspired by...

[@steveingram5264]

June 7th ,I've seen no swallows no house Martin's and just 4 Swift's,wots going on,

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

That's unsettling. I'm sure you're aware that bird numbers for most species are dropping, but not that suddenly. I was at a nature reserve over the weekend and saw lots of Tree Swallows. Bottom line: I don't know.

[@Megat0n]

I'm currently caring for a baby one that fell out of it's nest

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Love it. Good luck.

[@Megat0n]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Just this morning he flew and re joined his family

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@Megat0n 👍👍👍👍👍

[@psyveer]

'Make other birds look like pedestrians.. Our sluggish eyes struggle to track them' Love that.. This is so true.. If they get aware your trying to track them. Or pay attention to them. They'll come and play with you. Rapidly flying near you to check if you catch up. And if you do they get it. Delightful beings.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

It's a treat to hear from another swallow lover. I've got two videos about Barn Swallows that I bet you'd also like. One is about them nesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSkpKV_mLt4Z8ksi=iUiJbMjEHw0toEaX And the other explains why they're the most agile swallows in flight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnO6pp-fdt2sprssi=IxOcKxa3VeRUP9rC Thanks for commenting. Time now to look forward to their arrival next spring.

[@alanwann9318]

These are martins, swallows have long fork tails

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Are you perhaps in Europe? What we Americans call swallows are sometimes labelled martins in Europe. The ones with long forked tails are Barn Swallows.

[@danpals7678]

Thanks. We're in St.Johns Florida and have a flock of about 100 doing laps over the house for 4 hours now. Anybody know what they're doing?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I wish I had a clue, but I don't have any idea.

[@christaliu1733]

Hello, I come from Taiwan and I love this video!!!can i download be used in my work?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Please pardon me for not replying. I only now saw this comment. I appreciate it that you enjoyed the movie enough to want to use it. If it's not too late to be of use to you, I will grant you use of this video in your work, but first please give me an idea of what your work is and how you will use the film.

[@sameerparab5251]

Sparrow

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

?

[@cindysorenson3451]

are they nocturnal? two nights in a row at 10;30 pm, i've seen them chasing each other swooping ect. i thought they were bats at first. is this normal?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm sorry to tell you that I have no idea. I've never seen that. 🤷‍♀️

[@estebanvecino5437]

Hoy.las.estamos.esperando.vienen.de.San.Juan.Capistrano.llegan.a.la.tarde.a.GoYa.están.a.350.kms.swallows.welcome.a.Argentina

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Unfortunately I do not speak Spanish.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

😅

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

For someone who admires spiders: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5bLfYhvrM6jacU. Hearing from my viewers and responding to their comments is a pleasure. Unfortunately I must forgo answering comments for awhile because the rotator cuff tear in my left arm is healing slowly, and I just learned that I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right arm. I seem to have a body made out of spare parts- made on the cheap in China. So I won’t be answering comments before the beginning of August, if then. But if there’s something you’d like to tell me, please do so. I’ll be interested in what you have to say. It’s just that you’ll have to guess at what I would have answered. (I’ll be pasting this answer to every comment I get for the next few weeks.)

[@bahadirozer]

its not real slowmo

[@xxxTIN0xxx]

They're sand martins actually, not swallows. They belong to the same family but they're different species.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I believe the Bank Swallows are called Sand Martins in Europe--but not in the U.S.

[@xxxTIN0xxx]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I didn't know that Americans used a different name to refer to these birds, now it makes sense. We have 4 main species here: 1) Swallow (long forked tail and red throat). They're very numerous here. They're elegant, gorgeous, great flyers and the easiest to observe. 2) Swift. Probably the most distinguishable for those who aren't expert. They're the most numerous and they're easy to raise when they fell off their nest. 3) House Martin. They have a white rump. These three species nest inside and outside of the buildings. (The swift have the nests under the tiles or in the gutters). 4) Sand Martin. They're very similar to the House Martins. The lack of a white rump helps to tell them apart, plus Sand Martins nest into the sandy cliffs.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@xxxTIN0xxx Thanks for the rundown on what you get. What we call Martins are Purple Martins, and we often put up colonial nest boxes for them near water. They're indigo all over. Our swifts are called Chimney Swifts and they stay airborne all day. I haven't done movies on those two, but I have covered the rest of them. Two longer videos show all my movies about them; they're compilations of my shorter films on swallows. You could search for "Swallows Part One and Swallows Part Two if the subject interests you.

[@martinpion]

Thanks for posting. Informative narration with well chosen background music and helpful slow motion. Location, please?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Martin. I filmed them at Riverlands.

[@Aviationfan2022]

Amazing. Greetings from England. We have barn swallows in the country

[@noname-jh3bd]

I love these "acrobats of the air"!!!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

How could you help loving them, right?

[@MrSungjeonghyun]

Thank you

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're welcome.

[@bertanelson8062]

What about flycatchers? Are they cousins of swallows or a different name given to the bird?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Flycatchers aren't particularly related to swallows, though they have to be small, acrobatic fliers in order to capture insects on the wing. But they don't have the supersized wings of swallows and thus lack the swallows' supreme acrobatic skill.

[@RickyLJones]

Excellent work as always Jo! Love it!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

It's my pleasure to know that the films I make give you pleasure. Thanks, Ricky.

[@chandlerh565]

I don’t

[@MissBooful]

That was so quaint!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Glad you enjoyed it, Miss Booful.

[@MissBooful]

Oh, I did. This will be one to revisit from time to time. Swallows are always so sweet to watch and your narration was lovely.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Considering how much you enjoyed this film, let me mention that I have 165 movies up, all narrated and engaging. If you subscribe, you have access to them.

[@MissBooful]

Indeed, I shall! Thank you