Growing up in a (concrete) jungle: swallow chicks in Yokohama

I digress. Recently, I’ve noticed I’m getting attentive for signs of living creature (humans inclusive) in our environment. (Thank you Niiharu Citizen Forest 新治市民の森 and Yadoriki Water Source Forest やどりき水源林!) Tiny bugs on leaves of planting along boulevards, silhouette of birds flying between buildings, poops covering pedestrian road … One ordinary morning this June, I suddenly realized droppings of birds spread over a part of our familiar pedestrian tunnel below one very busy arterial road in Yokohama. Every day, we city folks hastily commute to catch packed morning trains via that tunnel made completely with concrete. I didn’t “see” the droppings there till that time. I was a sort of taken aback, and moved my sight to the ceiling of the tunnel. There, barn swallows constructed their home, and 4 chicks sat inside VERY silently. They avoid any attention from us humans busily coming and going below their home. Or, in this regard, perhaps they did not want to be detected by any natural enemy, and kept perfectly quiet until their parents brought meal. The way they closed their beaks tightly with determination was … CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!!!!

Here they are.

Don’t you feel strong will in their shape of mouth?

Since then, every morning I observe, or glance, them. I am amazed they literally grow bigger daily. I think the place was perfectly safe. The tunnel has only smooth concrete surface, and snakes et al cannot manage climbing up to the ceiling. Unless humans try to destroy the nest, they’ll have happy childhood. Soon, they leave their nest with their parents and join a community of swallows near water. (Where is it for them?) They stay there until the flock move to Southeast Asia for wintering. Every morning commute becomes a bit of fun for me these days. 😄 Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica gutturalis) is listed as “nearing to be endangered species” in Kangawa Prefecture. Hey kids, keep your mouth shut to survive, OK?

If you find an environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター

657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121 〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657

Phone: 046-248-0323

You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/