Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) are beautiful aerial darters that skim over water and fields, rarely stopping long enough for a photographer to spend some time filming them. I’ve seen them mainly near the marina next to the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area and at the north pumphouse in Central Park.
Barn swallow, the marina near Lido Beach Passive Nature Center, Long Island, June 7, 2021
In this slideshow, the barn swallows were seen at the marina near the Lido Beach Passive Nature Center on Long Beach, May 20 and June 7, 2021.
Barn swallow, the Reservoir, Central Park, July 23, 2019
Barn swallows have been nesting near the northern pumphouses at the Reservoir in Central Park during the last few years (when there isn’t construction going on to thwart their efforts). In 2019, I got to film the adults and fledglings on July 23. I have also filmed them on Governors Island (see below) and at Lido Beach Passive Nature Area on Long Island (video to come).
Barn swallow, the Reservoir, Central Park, May 2, 2020
Barn swallows, the Reservoir, Central Park, May 2, 2020
Barn swallow, April 28, 2020
Barn swallow fledglings, the Reservoir, Central Park, July 23, 2019
Barn Swallows at the Marina on Long Beach
I’ve also been fortunate to see barn swallows near where they nest near the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area on Long Island.
Barn swallow, the marine near the Lido Beach Passive Nature Area, May 17, 2019
More Barn Swallows in Central Park
I love to watch the barn swallows at the Reservoir in Central Park in the spring, but they don't stop long enough for me to film them. In 2015 we had barn swallows resting on a snag near the Point on the Lake in Central Park, and in 2017 I had two stop long enough for me to film on Governors Island. I'll take any view of these blue birds whenever I can!
Barn swallow, over the Lake, Central Park, May 6, 2015
The Filming the Feathers video has some of the original sounds heard in May 2015 at the Point on a snag over the Lake, plus music by Béla Bartók (Romanian folk dances, arranged for recorders and performed by Papalin). I slowed down the video of the swallows darting over the water at Governors Island.
This photo is from Governors Island on May 12, 2017.
These photos are from May 6 and 8, 2015, at the Point in Central Park.
