Expert: Julia Booth - 8/18/2008

Question
I had a pair of barn swallows construct a nest on my fire alarm. I was so enthralled throughout the hatching and growing of my 5 little friends. I was proud and sad when they flew away. Then the pair came back and had another brood of 5! Unfortunately we had a cold snap and the sadness was horrible when all 5 passed away. My question is...Is there a mourning/grieving period a parent bird goes through if they lose a chick?

Answer
I'm not sure about Swallows specifically. Some birds are totally dumb when it comes to that sort of thing and don't even seem to notice. Other times, Robins I know are fairly attached to their young and are reluctant to abandon them, even when they're dead.

Did the parents exhibit any strange behavior that prompted you to ask this question?

Most animals, sad as it sounds, are of the belief that they can "just make more" -fairly grotesque, but for them it's about procreation and perpetuating their species.