Why do swallows nest under the eaves?
Farmland space foraging-artificial protection-nesting nearby has gradually evolved into a common phenomenon that Yanidae (mainly domestic swallows and golden swallows) nest in the house and are passed down from generation to generation.
There is a saying in The Book of Songs: "Xuanniao is born by destiny". Although the "mysterious bird" here is controversial, most people think it is a swallow, and the mystery is black, indicating that the Shang Dynasty was born of swallows. Since human civilization has been recorded in writing, the record of domestic swallows nesting in people's homes has run through the whole history.
The first reason is that the wooden frame structure of ancient dwellings is suitable for nesting. Most swallows' nests are mainly made of mud, reinforced with grass stems and hemp thread, and finally covered with soft hay, feathers and hair. Almost all ancient residential buildings use logs as the roof structure, and the horizontal purlin mud is easy to fix, which makes it possible for domestic swallows to nest indoors, while other nests mainly made of hay, leaves and branches are powerless indoors.
Reason 2: Farmers welcome the patron saint of crops to settle down. Swallows are all insect-eating birds, and domestic swallows are more accustomed to flying over open fields to prey on locusts, moths, leafhoppers, crickets, mosquitoes and flies, and the number can reach hundreds every day. A swallow will eat thousands of insects in spring and summer. In that era when there was no pesticide, the yield of crops was low and people often couldn't eat, swallows were simply the "patron saint" of crops! The farmer is so grateful to it that he loves it and is willing to accept the swallow to settle indoors.
Reason 3: Living in other people's homes has obvious advantages over the wild-
1, protected by the strong, adults and chicks can avoid natural enemies such as snakes and carnivorous birds.
2, avoid bad weather, no more storms in summer, cool and less hot.
Reason 4: Jiayan is familiar with human nature. Swallow is a bird with high spirituality, and its perception of human movements, sounds, emotions and atmosphere is higher than that of other birds, which is also commonly known as "universal humanity". They can feel the kindness of farmers and are willing to be close to human beings. This relationship has been passed down from generation to generation in human beings and from generation to generation in domestic swallows until it evolved into the genetic level. Finally, one day, the first pair of brave domestic swallows took a decisive step: entering the house to nest! Then all the domestic swallows gradually evolved to this step, and the farmer was overjoyed. It is considered a good sign that the patron saint of crops has come to settle in the house.
Other swallows that prey on crop pests still nest outdoors to survive. For example, the nest site selection of the golden-waisted swallow evolved from the wild to the indoor middle zone-under the eaves or in the corridor, and it had to face the survival crisis of sparrows, storms, harassment and invasion of carnivorous birds.
Reason 5: The material and feeding area of the nest determine the position of the nest. Because crops are planted, there are many flying insects and plenty of food in the plains, but there are no nesting places in the wild, such as cliffs, caves, crevices and steep slopes that other swallows often choose, and swallows' nests made of soil are not suitable for trees, so nesting in other places is the best choice.
Reason 6: Family Swallow-the embodiment of hardworking people. The dribs and drabs of domestic swallows when building nests and the tireless efforts when feeding small swallows are simply the embodiment of hard-working people. The workers saw their own shadows in the swallows, and they longed to live in the room.
Therefore, domestic swallows catch pests for farmers, and farmers provide shelter for domestic swallows to nest and multiply. This is not only mutual assistance and mutual benefit, but also a kind instinct. Over time, this trust relationship gradually extended to the whole human race and swallow race. The harmony between swallows and human beings is not only the result of natural survival and evolution, but also the cause of man-made and lasting promotion. Domestic swallows and golden swallow never nest inside or outside uninhabited buildings, which is a strong proof of trusting human beings and seeking asylum. However, domestic swallows are still in a natural state of existence, completely free to obtain food, nest and raise chicks, and live in activities, keeping a subtle distance from human beings, which is different from domesticated livestock and pets.