But then these are not just any bird,
but the famous swallows of which youve heard.
As sure as the notes of an accomplished soprano,
they find their way back to San Juan Capistrano.
Leaving South America as if by a clock,
flying to California before they dock,
right on schedule on St. Josephs Day,
at San Juans mission Spring and Summer to stay.
The swallows flight takes some 7,000 miles,
and to dwell on that may bring some denials.
To catch air currents with the necessary flow,
altitudes are adjusted often to the most apropos.
Arrival at the old mission is quite an occasion,
as worldwide visitors celebrate the invasion.
Bells of the old church ring loudly for hours,
and a huge fiesta is replete with Spring flowers.
The swallows set about to build mud nests,
knowing safety is assured as honored guests.
They seem to sense San Juans regulation,
to harm the swallows means a jail destination.
Behind the sheltered walls of the old mission,
spending Spring and Summer as if by cognition,
the swallows realize when its time to leave,
making the term bird brain hard to believe.
On the Day of San Juan, October twenty-three,
the birds circle the old mission, preparing to flee.
With Thank you squawks echoing oer the land below,
they turn for Argentina, its time for their Winter show.
Its true those in San Juan regret seeing them depart,
but next March 19 theyll fly back into their heart.
How do they do it, for centuries its been asked,
how do little birds perform such a task?
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1941: The 99th Pursuit Squadron also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-black unit of the Army Air Corp, is activated.
1945: While launching attacks on the Japanese Home Islands, the Essex class carrier U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13) is attacked by a Japanese diver bomber. Hit at the most vulnerable time, rearming and refueling of aircraft, the Franklin lost 724 men and was put out of action for the rest of the war. Due to this damage and despite being repaired, Franklin would never go to sea again.
1945: Adolf Hitler issues his Nero Decree ordering all industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities and communications facilities in Germany be destroyed.
1979: The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business on C-SPAN.
1982: Argentinean forces land on South Georgia Island, initiating the Falklands War.
1987: Televangelist Jim Bakker resigns as head of the PTL Club due to a brewing sex scandal; he hands over control to Jerry Falwell.
2002: Operation Anaconda ends after killing 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.
2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom is launched with an attempted decapitation strike on the Iraqi leadership.