The swallows have been flocking to a massive sand pile at the Elmer's Crane and Dozer gravel pit on Rennie School Road for their summer vacation. Barker keeps sand and gravel flowing out of the pit for building projects across the area and has been with Elmer's for more than eight years. Each spring, the flock digs nests into the southeastern face of Barker's sand pile, an area protected from the prevailing northwesterly winds. The birds bore cylindrical holes in rows near the top of the five-story pile and spend the rest of the summer divebombing Barker's bulldozer, among other things. He said a photographer at the site seemed to scare the birds more than his heavy equipment.
Barker figures it's a matter of trust.
Through the summer the birds teach their young to fly before they begin their fall sojourn south. So far, Barker said, there have been no casualties from the flying lessons. As soon as the birds leave in the fall, Barker levels the pile and uses the material for concrete. Barker and his wife, Sandy, have lived in the Traverse City area on Old Mission Peninsula for more than 11 years. I guess that's why she kept me.