Hirundinidae - Relationship With Humans

Relationship With Humans

Swallows are tolerated by humans because of their beneficial role as insect-eaters, and some species have readily adapted to nesting in and around human habitation. The Barn Swallow and House Martin now rarely use natural sites. The Purple Martin is also actively encouraged by people to nest around humans and elaborate nest boxes are erected. Enough artificial nesting sites have been created that the Purple Martin now seldom nests in natural cavities in the eastern part of its range.

Because of the long human experience with these conspicuous species, many myths and legends have arisen as a consequence, particularly relating to the Barn Swallow. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder described a use of painted swallows to deliver a report of the winning horses at a race. During the nineteenth century, Jean Desbouvrie attempted to tame swallows and train them for use as messenger birds, as an alternative to war pigeons. He succeeded in curbing the migratory instinct in young birds and persuaded the government of France to conduct initial testing, but stalled further experimentation. Subsequent attempts to train homing behaviour into swallows and other passerines had difficulty establishing a statistically significant success rate, although the birds have been known to trap themselves repeatedly in order to obtain bait from traps.

The swallow has been an influence in the world of aeronautical thought since antiquity, and an influence on modern aeronautics, in Europe in particular.

Two famous World War II Axis fighters took their name from the swallow, and remain famous for both their speed and beauty:

• The Me-262 Schwalbe, the world's first operational transonic jet fighter
• The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, an Imperial Japanese Army fighter

BOAC used a highly stylised swallow (or perhaps, a bluebird) specifically for its 'Speedbird' trans-atlantic services.

According to a sailing superstition, swallows are a good omen to those at sea. This probably arose from the fact that swallows are land-based birds, so their appearance informs a sailor that he is close to shore. An old term of venery for swallows is a "flight" or "sweep."