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Gidday All,
Re the welcome Welcome Swallow:
I have an old book - "The Useful Birds of Southern
Australia" by Robert Hall, pub 1907 by T C Lothian (Melbourne and Sydney)
.
In this book the bird is called House-Swallow, with
the alternate common name of Welcome Swallow in brackets. The scientific name is
the same... the specific name, neoxena, means
neos=new/zenos=strange.
(I like that!)
Mr Hall talks about the seasonal importance of
returning swallows because they are insectivores, and tells a tale about a
migrating flock diverting through a local school... he goes on to say,
"...Agriculturists ever welcome the House-Swallow as one of their best friends,
and it was as well for those dwelling in this wheat-growing district that the
flock kept the even tenor of its way."
I'm wondering if the "welcome" part of their common
name could have developed from such feelings?
Regards, Judie Peet
(The only thing certain about bird watching is that
nothing's certain!)
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