To: Journey North
From: Innoko River School,
Shageluk, Alaska
Dear Journey North,
What timing! Yesterday, May 8th, we saw our first Swallow and the ice began running on our river! NOW it is spring in the Interior of Alaska!
In the past couple of days we noticed an increase in the number of mosquitoes in our area. When "dinner" arrives we know that the Swallows, hitchhiking with the Cranes, will make their appearance. (This is according to an Athebascan migration legend, a traditional story told in the Shageluk community. The story explains why cranes always return before the swallows each spring. You can find this legend below and on the Journey North migration map. Note the swallows' arrival in Shageluk after the cranes again this year!)
Date.................Birds Returning to Shageluk
April 25.............Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans & Snow Geese
April 27.............American Robins, Sparrows & Other Thrushes
May 05...............Peregrine Falcons
May 08...............Swallows
When we were studying swallows earlier this spring, we called the folks at San Juan Capistrano in southern California regarding the Swallow celebration in their community. (Swallows are said to return to Capistrano every year on March 16th.) Part of their tradition is that the swallows, when flying over vast areas of water, carry a little twig in their mouths. When they get tired, they drop the twig and perch securely on the ocean for a bit. By the time they head up our way they are hitchhiking with the Cranes. If I were a tiny little swallow I'd do that, too! Pretty smart of them.
The swallows travel many miles from their wintering home in Argentina. Ornithologists say that almost 50 percent of all the swallows that begin their migration from Argentina die along the way. There are still so many when they arrive here that I can imagine the humonguous flock that flies over South America! The swallows begin their migration BACK to South America by the 3rd week of July. Such a short visit when you think of how far they travel!
Someday I would like to get some traditional stories from South America on swallows. I have my own story: Every spring after the swallows arrive I end up having to take apart my chimney because, without fail, the little guys in the shiny tuxedos end up down my chimney. By the time I get to them their feathers are black with soot and their tuxedos in a bit of a fluff. I'm sure they promptly go and bathe as most swallows seem to take great pride in the sheen and smoothness of their suit. Last year we had to climb on top of the house and put a bucket over the chimney. That kept them from entering.
School will be out for us on May 15. We would like to thank all the students, teachers, and staff of Journey North for providing such a terrific program every spring!
Looking to the skies,
Joyanne Hamilton and Students
Innoko River School
Shageluk, Alaska
TSJMH1@acad1.alaska.edu
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Athebascan Migration Legend
(as told by Elders Phillip Arrow and Lucy Hamilton)
Innoko River School
Shageluk, Alaska
How the Swallow Comes
In the spring the Crane comes back. He brings back the little birds under his huge wings. He circles above the village. He lets birds under his huge wings. He lets the little birds off where he knows they live. He keeps going with those that are going to another place.
The Swan thought, "I should do that too." The little birds went to the Swan. And then, all at once, the Swan started to get very hungry. It started to eat them. It started letting them off where they were not supposed to go.
The little birds began wondering, "We'll not fly with him anymore, because he got hungry and killed some of us. We'll only go back with the Crane."
From this day, the little birds only fly with the Crane. Even if the Crane is hungry, he never bothers them. The Crane leaves them alone and they all stop to eat. After that they board him again and they take off. He leaves the birds where they are supposed to go. They are thankful to him and say he was good to them"
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