I recently realized I haven't seen any barn swallows this year! I know some people consider them nuisances because of their mud nests, but I think they're beautiful. I make Phil wait until the babies are hatched before he knocks down the nests, and of course they lay another batch of eggs before he has a chance. What I especially love about the swallows is how they all fly back to their nests just as the sun goes down. Their timing is amazing.

Anyway, their absence this year makes me a little uneasy. All the other birds (California quail, mourning doves, American robins, finches) seem to be here. Have the climate changes affected the swallows'  migration? Or have they found friendlier places around town to build their nests?