They are the same birds celebrated in San Juan Capistrano, where, according to legend, the birds return each year.
Cliff swallows are among the native species that benefit from human presence.
They build mud nests, an annoyance to many homeowners who illegally spray the nests down during breeding season. As a result, the population of cliff swallows is almost certainly far greater today than it was before large numbers of people settled here. P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711.