Swallow (tsubame)

[ . BACK to TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Swallow (tsubame, Japan)

***** Location: Japan, other countries
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Animal

*****************************
Explanation

... ... ... Kigo for SPRING

barn swallow, tsubame 燕, 乙鳥
..... tsubakurame つばくらめ
..... tsubakuro つばくろ
Hirundo rustica

swallows in flight, hi-en, hi en 飛燕

first swallow of the season, hatsu tsubame 初燕


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

... ... ... Kigo for SUMMER


swallow babies, tsubame no ko 燕の子 (つばめのこ)
baby swallow, kotsubame 子燕（こつばめ）
parent swallow, oya tsubame親燕（おやつばめ）

Summer swallow, natsu tsubame 夏燕 (なつつばめ)
..... natsu no tsubame 夏の燕（なつのつばめ）

Swallow in the rain, ame tsubame 雨燕 (あまつばめ)
..... hari-o ame tsubame 針尾雨燕（はりおあまつばめ）


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

... ... ... Kigo for AUTUMN

migrating swallows, ki-en, ki en 帰燕
departing swallows, inu tsubame 去ぬ燕, いぬつばめ
swallows going back to the south, tsubame kaeru 燕帰る
remaining swallows, nokoru tsubame 残る燕

swallows of autumn, autumn swallows, shuu-en, shuu en 秋燕


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

... ... ... Kigo for WINTER

swallow on its way, tooshi tubame 通し燕 (とおしつばめ)
"swallow over winter" ettoo tsubame 越冬燕（えっとうつばめ）
"swallow over the new year" otsunen tsubame
越年燕（おつねんつばめ）
"swallow left behind" nokori tsubame
残り燕（のこりつばめ）


If they build a nest under the eaves of a farmhouse in the spring, the family will be blessed throughout the year (and not only with the excrements, but with good luck …)

Gabi Greve

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Evening in the reed fields of Japan, with a group of swallows
渡良瀬遊水地
http://www.uroncha.com/04wata/04wata10/0410-1.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Barn Swallow


The popular and attractive Barn Swallow, found worldwide, is the most widespread of the swallows. In the western hemisphere, it winters in South America, but migrates northward to breed over most of North America. A round trip may cover 14,000 miles. They prefer open country, and readily nest on man-made structures. They perform an important economic function as they cruise low over lawns, fields, lakes, and ponds, consuming large numbers of flies, aphids, beetles, bees, moths, mayflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars and other insects.

Historically, Barn Swallow populations have suffered from competition with House Sparrows. The use of pesticides and the resulting reduction of insects has also contributed to their decline. Unusually cold weather during the nesting season also reduces the availability of insects and may lead to starvation of young and adults. Fortunately, Barn Swallows readily adapt to man's artificial structures. Their populations are doing well in many regions, but in some regions declines are still occurring.

Read a lot more interesting information about this animal
http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/barnswallow.htm

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Europead Bird's Guide about the Swallow

Swallows are the very epitome of summer.
In Britain they are distributed throughout the whole country.

In Europe swallows breed northwards as far as the Arctic Circle. During spring successive waves leapfrog northwards over each other. In fact pioneers in southern Europe will have reared first broods to the flying stage before the last migrants pass through to reach the most northerly breeding areas in early June.

Flying, the swallow is most graceful. Its effortless twisting and turning in search of food is a delight to watch. The ceaseless flight is occasionally interrupted by a brief stall to intercept an insect which has nearly — but not quite — passed. The long tail is used to good effect to accomplish the intricate manoeuvre.

The swallow's close relation, the house martin, usually feeds at a considerably greater height than the swallow, as does the swift. In fact only during cool, wet or windy conditions will all the hirundines and the swift be found feeding together low over a broad or in the lee of woodland from which insects may be blown or where food may be sheltering.
http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/swallow.htm

The swallow is a beneficial bird that is found almost worldwide. There are many varieties of swallows, and they have interesting nesting and feeding habits.
The silhouette of a swallow is unmistakeable with its sharply pointed, angled wings and forked tail. They are often seen darting swiftly across the sky, catching insects in midair. According to the book "Peterson First Guides: Birds", written by Roger Tory Peterson and published in 1986 by Houghton Mifflin Company, there are seventy-five types of swallows worldwide. Eight of the seventy-five species can be found in Canada and the United States. The same article says five additional species are considered strays.
Read more:
http://arar.essortment.com/birdsswallows_rkfy.htm

*****************************
Worldwide use

England

Last week in the south of England, another look at the swallows in transit, the "local" swallows having already left. Swallows are definitely (for me at least) a kigo for the European spring (arrival) and the European autumn (departure).

Dewy grey morning,
swallows whirling and feeding --
-- passing in transit.

Isabelle Prondzynski
Autumn 2004

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kenya

But of course, their disappearance from Europe brings about their re-appearance in Africa. I have seen them in the highlands of Kenya, far from Nairobi, enjoying themselves, living it up during the European winter months. My mother (in Ireland) wonders what the people must think about such birds, which turn up and make merry, then disappear for many months of the year...

Schwalbe, in Kenya
baust du kein Nest, tanzt du nur --
was meint man von dir?

Swallow, in Kenya,
you build no nest, only dance --
then, you fly away...

Isabelle Prondzynski
Autumn 2004

*****************************
Things found on the way

Oscar Wilde's lovely story "The Happy Prince"
One of the two principal characters of the story is the little swallow, late for its return to Egypt for the winter. It takes only about 20 minutes to read.
Highly recommended by Isabelle Prondzynski!
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/902

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Swallows and their Problems with the Human
FLYING IN THE FACE OF HYPOCRISY
Educative Article by C.W. NICOL, 2005
Swallows by Nicol


*****************************
HAIKU


© Photo by Gabi Greve, In my Home in Japan
yuu-tsubame ware ni wa asu no ate wa naki

evening swallows--
no hope for tomorrow
for me

.. .. .. .. ..

baby swallows in the nest--
eyes glued
on the evening sky



Issa

Three more haiku about the swallow by Issa
http://haikuguy.com/issa/advancedsearch.html

© Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo
http://blog.livedoor.jp/sakuo3903/

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

swallow in flight
swooping to take the fly
ripple on the pond

Degasian
http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki.archive/html/9908/0610.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



© By Origa, Olga Hooper

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hatsu-tsubame ... ... 初燕
yane no kazari ni ... ... 屋根の飾りに
nari ni keri ... ... なりにけり

first swallows -
my roof turned canvas
for modern art

Read the full story with photos by Gabi Greve here
My First Swallow !

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> > a straight hit
> > on a bald head -
> > swallow in passing


© Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo

ein Volltreffer
auf die Glatze -
Schwalbe im Durchflug

© Haiku by Gabi Greve


*****************************
Related words

***** Swift (Apus apus) Ireland, Europe


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

BIRD SAIJIKI

Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/