Historically the swallows return to Capistrano on St. Josephs’ Day, March 19th. In reality, depending on the weather, the swallows may show up a day or two or even a week earlier. But the local inhabitants just keep their eyes lowered and don’t look up until March 19th. So the first day the swallows are seen every year is the 19th. It is a civic duty. Good for the town and local businesses.
If you don’t happen to be in southern California, communities closer to home have also tried to capitalize on such natural events. For example since 1957 Hinckley Reservation in a small town near Cleveland has celebrated the annual return of the Buzzards (Turkey Vultures). Buzzard Sunday, which is the first Sunday after March 15th, 
is a big event attracting hundreds or thousands of people (and buzzards).
I learned about this event from a friend who attended college in Cleveland.
What I remember most, in fact it is all I do remember, is the following line from the song/poem that was created for a pamphlet promoting the event:
“The buzzards of Hinckley all ugly and pinkly”
Words like that are hard to forget.
Leave a Reply