Life on the Farm: Black Snakes and Barn Swallows

Black Snakes and Barn Swallows

Birds chirping, trees turning a bright yellow green, a warm breeze whistling through the trees, and flowers coming in to full bloom are signs that spring is right around the corner. However, on the dairy, we have other unique signs of spring. We have some critters that tend to come back around when the weather becomes more tolerable. Some of these critters are welcomed with open arms, while others are avoided.

When the time changes and we are finishing work when the sun is still shining brightly, we will stand near our office and look out at our old barn. The old barn has an old hay loft about ten to fifteen feet off the ground. There is enough air space below and above the hay loft for birds to fly through. A lot of birds will make nest under the hay loft on some of the old boards that make up the loft. About late March or early April, we start paying attention to which birds are flying through. When we suddenly see the brilliant dark blue and burnt orange birds start swooping and diving through the barn, we smile. The barn swallows are always one of the first signs that warm weather is here to stay for a while.

The barn swallows dive and glide through the air and put on a show for all of us. We love watching them effortlessly swoop down and glide up as high as they can. They travel from tree to tree and race through the barn. Sometimes, you can barely see them from the velocity of their flight.  Barn swallows are always welcomed with open arms and are a joy to watch throughout the warm weather.

They are definitely more welcomed than our other little friend, Little Buddy, the black snake.

Little Buddy has been our usual visitor every spring. He is a four-foot black snake with four notches in his tail and a crocked tip. Every morning, he slithers down from his residence in our feed room in order to fill up on water for the day. He resides in the feed room and spends his days filling up on mice and other rodents. He never bothers anyone. He gives us a good scare every now and then. For example, the other day I was trying to shut the machine off since we were done milking. I was talking to a co-worker and suddenly I felt the faintest feather like touch on my arm. I turned and there was Little Buddy. He had licked my arm. I ran out of the room saying some very colorful words. He didn’t curl up or strike, he merely said hello. Then I recorded him drinking water and slithering back to his home.

Black snakes and barn swallows are two very different signs of spring at the dairy. They are unique and by encountering both creatures, we have hope for a successful spring. That’s what’s going on, on the farm.

Photo and story by Courtney Henderson, Special to the Botetourt Bee