The flight of the Hirondelles

Known in English as swifts or house martins, we observe a thousand or more of these small birds perched on the high voltage wire atop the electric pylons in the farmer’s adjacent  field.

Below them, the farmer is harvesting tonnes of plums from his orchard, soon to become the famous “pruneaux d’Agenais”.

These birds are preparing for their annual migration south, to sub-Saharan Africa.

the house martin, courtesy Google image

Apparently, on this long flight, they catch airborne insects and store them under their wings to feed on during their long journey.

Les Hirondelles will return to southern France next year.