World-famous barn swallows return to Mount Moreland
Tim Furness, who is responsible for day-to-day operations and assisting visitors, recommends planning your viewing time according to the sunset.
The world-famous Mount Moreland barn swallows viewing site held a magnificent season grand opening night on Friday.
This was the first time the event has been held since before Covid and about 60 people brought their picnic baskets and binoculars for the auspicious family-friendly occasion.
As if pre-ordained by Mother Nature, an extraordinary backdrop for the main attraction was set when hundreds of picturesque dahitis came into bloom to skirt groups of viewers while a windless clear-sky evening produced a rich golden sunset.
On cue, millions of barn swallows appeared from all directions, chaotically filling the sky above the Lake Victoria wetland before diving into the reedbeds to roost.
This was not only a visual but also an auditory experience as the massive cloud of swallows all twittered, chatted and chirruped at once.
Up to three million barn swallows (also called European swallows) come to the Mount Moreland roosting site every evening between November and April.
The Lake Victoria wetland is the largest barn swallow roost in South Africa.
In 2006, Birdlife International and BirdlifeSA declared it an Important Bird Area (IBA), including it in an international conservation programme that not only looks after the birds but also their environment.
The viewing site will be open Friday to Sunday from 5-7pm until the end of April.
Tim Furness, who is responsible for day-to-day operations and assisting visitors, recommends planning your viewing time according to the sunset.
“Sunset changes every day. You need to check what time sunset is and be here half an hour before.”
He said due to the migration patterns, barn swallow numbers peaked in mid-November and mid-April when the birds that did not roost there for the season use Mount Moreland’s wetlands as a stop-over en route to and from destinations further south.
The upkeep and maintenance of the viewing site is entirely donation-funded.
“There are multiple expansive lawn terraces for visitors to spread out and have sundowners and it takes an army of people to mow,” said Furness.
Because the wetland attracts a lot of mosquitos (a mealtime favourite for the barn swallows), Furness advises visitors to bring anti-mozzie lotion along with other basics such as binoculars and camping chairs or blankets to sit on.
He added that cloudy days are just as good for viewing as sunny days and there is a communal pair of binoculars available for those who don’t have their own.
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