A little reason to celebrate
Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day
Animal · Nature · October 23
Cliff swallows leave Mission San Juan Capistrano in California for their long migration south, a seasonal moment people watch for each autumn.
Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day falls on Saturday, October 23, 2027. That is 361 days away.
Cliff swallows are small, quick birds with square tails, pale foreheads and rusty throats. Each spring they arrive at Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, and later in the year they leave again. This day marks their leaving.
The birds are known for their nests. Cliff swallows build them from small pellets of mud, carried one beakful at a time and pressed into a gourd shape under eaves, bridges and cliff overhangs. They often nest in tight colonies, so one wall can hold dozens of these little mud jugs side by side.
When the season turns, the swallows head south for the winter, traveling long distances to South America. Their departure is quieter than their arrival. Nobody rings a bell for a bird that is already gone, so the day tends to be marked by looking up and noticing the sky is a little emptier.
The mission is linked to the birds in story and song, and the swallows have become part of how the town thinks of itself. In practice, their numbers there have varied over time, and many now nest in other spots around the area.
You do not need to be in California to pay attention. Cliff swallows and their relatives nest across much of North America, and an old mud nest under a bridge stays put long after its builders have flown.
Ways to celebrate
- Look for old mud nests under bridges or building eaves near you.
- Watch the evening sky for swallows feeding on insects in flight.
- Leave nesting birds and their nests undisturbed.
- Read about the migration routes of North American swallows.
- Sketch a cliff swallow's gourd-shaped mud nest.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, October 23 |
| 2027 | Saturday, October 23 |
| 2028 | Monday, October 23 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, October 23 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, October 23 |
All national days on October 23
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Categories: Animal daysNature days