The Swallows of San Juan Capistrano

On or around October 23rd, the swallows leave the California mission of San Juan Capistrano to make their 6,000-mile flight back to Goya, Argentina for the winter. They will return in the spring to spend their summer in California. Crowds gather to view both their coming and their departure. The beating wings and number of birds that take to the sky make an unusual show.

One of the mission's bellringers even told the tale that swallows flew across the Pacific Ocean to Jerusalem when they left, carrying twigs to use to rest on the water along the way. In 1939, the bird's arrival was featured on a radio broadcast, and  Leon Rene wrote the song, "When the Swallows come back to Capistrano" which spent weeks at the top of the Hit Parade charts.

Tradition says that the swallows come on March 19th (Saint Joseph's Day) and fly south on October 23rd (Saint John's Day). The events will be close to those dates. I've had the privilege of touring the mission in the summer when the birds had already arrived. I could see their nests around the mission walls, especially tucked into the eaves. I found the mission itself interesting, and the swallows only added to its appeal.

_____________________________