Joe Silva has lived in Tulare all his life. At 89 years old, he's alone now... that is except for his annual 'visitors'... the swallows that have built a nest in two corners of the porch outside his front door. Joe's sister Mary told me that sometime last year when she was at his house helping him get things cleaned up, she swept the droppings from the front porch and proceeded to try to get those messy nests down. Joe had a fit! He didn't want anyone disturbing 'his' swallow nests. She knows for a fact they have been there, and the birds have been returning, for at least eight years.
Last week Mary and I went to visit Joe. We knew the nests would be full of birds when we spotted Mama bird swooping in and out of the front porch, back and forth most likely bringing food to her young. We were right, there were four good-sized babies peeking out from the nest. Soon they, too, will be gone and Joe will be alone again - until next year.
