I found several recently fledged juvenile Barn Swallows perched along the top wire of a barbed-wire fence in the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). The young birds were congregating together out in the open where they were waiting for their parents to arrived with an insect meal to eat.

As they perched on the wire the juvenile swallows would preen their feathers and interact with each other—but only when they were not scanning the sky watching for their parents to return. When an insect laden adult was spotted, the excitement would begin to build. Soon the juvenile swallow would become all aflutter. The parent bird would zoom by, pausing only long enough to pop an insect into the gaping mouth of its offspring.

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

Barn Swallow - Extended Childhood

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