A series of photographs documents a pair of barn swallows after one of the birds is fatally injured by a car. The surviving mate is shown bringing food and attending to its injured companion. After finding its mate dead, the surviving swallow is seen trying to move the body and standing beside it, saddened by its death. The document discusses how, while it is difficult to view animal emotions through a human lens, the series of photos raises questions about how socially and intellectually complex animals like birds may experience and process death of a close companion.

1. THEY HAVE FEELINGS… Victoria-M. [email_address]

2. There are many inexplicable and tragic events in nature, yet few are captured on film. Here is an interesting series of photographs depicting a pair of swallows, Hirundo rustica ( known as the Barn Swallow in the United States ). In this series of images, we watch the story that unfolds after one of the birds was fatally injured, yet the bird's mate remains nearby, delivering food or water and keeping its dying companion company.

3. Here his wife is injured and the condition is fatal. She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.

4. Here he brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.

5. He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead. He tried to move her.... a rarely-seen effort for swallows!

6. Aware that his sweetheart is dead and will never come back to him again, he cries with adoring love.

7. He stood beside her, saddened of her death.

8. Finally, aware that she would never return to him, he stood beside her body with sadness and sorrow.

9. Certainly, it is heartbreaking to view them through the lens of human emotions, but I do wonder about the emotional lives of animals, especially highly social and intellectually complex animals, such as birds. It’s doubtful that birds think about death as humans do, but does that mean they are less affected by death when it happens to a close companion? This is one of the many great mysteries that we will never really know the answer to … © June/2009