What has happened to the swallows? - archive, 31 August 1889

31 August 1889: No satisfactory reason has been given as to why fewer of these graceful and beautiful birds have been sighted this yearEditorialAs the time approaches when the swallows prepare for their southward migrations attention is again called to the undoubted fact that in Lancashire, as in other parts of the kingdom, these graceful and beautiful birds have been seen this year in fewer numbers than for a long time past. Here and there they have settled, but all over the country the remark is heard that in hundreds of houses the eaves have been tenantless this year. No very satisfactory reason for this unwonted neglect has yet been given. The birds have been known to avoid certain districts when the cholera was raging there, but there has this year happily been no such grim cause for their avoidance of us; and it is not improbable that they knew by instinct that their accustomed sources of food supply would not be so abundant this summer. Related: A tide is turning for the swallows Continue reading...